‘Dear Mummy and Papa…’: Tej Pratap addresses parents days after Lalu expels him from party

The controversy erupted last Sunday when Lalu Prasad announced Tej Pratap’s expulsion from the RJD for six years and severed familial ties, citing “irresponsible behaviour” and actions not aligned with the family’s “values and traditions”. In a post on X, Lalu had said, “Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. My eldest son’s activities, public conduct, and irresponsible behaviour are not in accordance with our family values and traditions. Therefore, due to the current circumstances, I am removing him from the party and family.”

The decision followed a now-deleted social media post by Tej Pratap, where he shared a picture with a woman, claiming a 12-year relationship. He later claimed that his social media accounts were hacked and that the images were edited to defame him and his family. “I appeal to my well-wishers and followers to be cautious and ignore rumours,” he had written on X.

Following the revelation of Tej Partap’s alleged relationship and his expulsion from party and family, his estranged wife, Aishwarya Rai, had also accused the Yadav family of ruining her life for political gains.

Aishwarya, the granddaughter of former Bihar chief minister Daroga Prasad Rai, last week accused Lalu Yadav of orchestrating her 2018 marriage to Tej Pratap for political reasons, despite allegedly knowing about his prior relationship. “Why was my life ruined? Now, all of a sudden, they are talking about social awakening and moral conscience,” she had said, dismissing the expulsion as “election drama” ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections set to be held later this year.

Aishwarya, whose divorce proceedings with Tej Pratap are pending in a Patna family court, alleged physical and verbal abuse during their brief marriage, which ended within a year. “When I was beaten and abused, where was their social justice then?” she asked.

The rift within the Yadav family has been brewing for years, with RJD insiders pointing to Tej Pratap’s unease over the rising prominence of his younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. Tej Pratap initially focused on spiritual pursuits but later sought a larger political role. He served as Bihar’s health minister in 2015 and environment minister in 2022.

Tejashwi Yadav supported his father’s decision to expel his brother. “Personal and public life are two different things. My brother is an adult and free to make decisions about his personal life,” Tejashwi said.

Last week, as Tejashwi and his wife, Rajshree, announced the birth of their son — their second child — after which leaders from different political parties extended warm wishes, including Tej Pratap.

“Congratulations and best wishes to my younger brother, Tejashwi, and Rajshree. Sending love and blessings to my nephew,” Tej Pratap had said in a post.

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