The nation- and especially Bihar- was left in shock when RJD leader and former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav announced the expulsion of his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday. No one thought a family man like Lalu would take such a step against his son. He has been expelled from the party for six years over what has been described as “disregard for moral values in personal life”. The move followed after Tej, who is also a former Bihar minister, posted an update about his personal life relating to her current partner, Anushka Yadav.
What Happened On Saturday?
The Facebook post, which went viral, claimed that Tej Pratap Yadav had been in a long-term relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav. Here’s what he posted before deleting it- “The one seen in this picture is Anushka Yadav. We have known each other for the last 12 years. We are in love and have been in a relationship for 12 years,” the post said. Soon after, Tej Pratap claimed his Facebook account had been “hacked”. He alleged there was an attempt to “defame and harass” him and his family. Later, Lalu Prasad announced his expulsion from the party and family, accusing him of being ‘irresponsible’.
Who Is Anushka Yadav?
Anushka Yadav is known to lead a very private life, showing little interest in the public spotlight and often staying away from media attention. Anushka Yadav’s family resides in Langartoli, Patna, and her father’s name is Manoj Yadav. She is also believed to be the sister of Akash Yadav, who previously served as the state president of the RJD’s student wing, as per reports. Interestingly, it was Tej Pratap Yadav who had appointed Akash to the position. However, Akash was later removed by RJD’s state president Jagdanand Singh, who replaced him with Gagan Yadav. Following his removal, Akash Yadav distanced himself from Tej Pratap and aligned with political rival Pashupati Paras.
The controversy related to Tej’s post stirred a storm in Bihar’s political circles. Tej Pratap’s uncles, Subhash Yadav and Sadhu Yadav, claimed that the Lalu family was aware of Tej Pratap’s relationship with Anushka, and that his marriage to Aishwarya was forced upon him. In some of the pictures surfacing online, Tej Pratap is seen with Anushka, who is dressed like a newly-married woman. The happy-looking couple is also seen celebrating Karwa Chauth together.
Tej’s Marriage To Aishwarya Rai
In 2018, just a few months after their marriage, Tej Pratap filed for divorce from Aishwarya Rai. Following this, Aishwarya accused him of physical abuse, drug use, and cross-dressing. The case is currently ongoing in the family court.
What Experts Say
The images have caused political trouble for Yadav, especially with the Bihar Assembly elections approaching. His rivals are now questioning his character and trustworthiness. They accuse him of deceiving both Aishwarya Rai and Anushka Yadav, which has further damaged his public image and raised concerns among voters. Bihar will go to the polls in October.
Experts believe that Lalu’s decision to expel Tej Pratap was primarily to safeguard the political career of his younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD’s face for the 2025 elections. Tej Pratap’s post went viral and caused significant controversy amid his ongoing divorce and allegations of domestic abuse. This situation risked harming the image of the RJD party, which promotes itself as a champion of social justice. They believe that Lalu did this because of “fear of losing votes” rather than moral concerns, as the controversy could alienate voters sensitive to personal scandals, particularly women and those critical of dynastic politics.
National General Secretary of BJP OBC Morcha, Dr Nikhil Anand, attacked Yadav for setting a wrong example for society and his followers. He questioned Yadav’s character for his unfair treatment of the two women. “If you did not think about the entire society, you should have thought about the Yadav society or at least about our daughters. If such a low character is publicly displayed by the family of politicians like you, then it is definitely a matter of shame. Now it seems that Aishwarya Rai is really a very big victim in the whole episode, from whom the entire Lalu Prasad Yadav family should apologize publicly and she should also get proper compensation or restitution,” Anand wrote on X.
