Tej Pratap sticks to divorce move: cannot wait till father gets bail

Stating that his family has supported Aishwarya rather than siding with him, Tej said, “I am sticking to my decision. Who knows when my father would get bail. My problem would not subside with any wait.”

READ | Tej Pratap meets Lalu, says firm on divorce decision

He also hinted that he will not listen to anyone’s advice, adding that even his brother and sisters have backed Aishwarya, who had returned to Lalu Prasad’s Patna residence the day she came to know of Tej having filed a divorce plea.

Chandrika Rai, who has refrained from any comment, has been in discussion with Lalu Prasad’s family to save his daughter’s marriage, which was seen as a “great political tie-up” in Bihar.

Daroga Rai, the first Yadav CM in Bihar, had a lot of clout in Saran (Chhapra), which Lalu Prasad also represented in the Lok Sabha several times.

The couple had tied the knot here on May 12 this year.

RJD sources said what also might be at the root of the problem between Tej and Aishwarya could be “speculation around the candidature for the Saran seat”. An RJD leader said, “With chances of Rabri Devi not contesting the 2019 polls, there had been speculation of either Aishwarya or her father Chandrika Rai contesting it. Tej, however, did not approve of Chandrika Rai contesting it.”

In his divorce plea, Tej has talked about Aishwarya “building pressure on him in prompting some political decisions and also causing rift with his brother”. Sources said Aakash Yadav, a key aide of Tej and an RJD student wing leader, has been suspended for “misguiding” Tej.

It is also learnt that Tej filed the divorce plea to “preempt any complaint by his wife”.

A senior RJD leader said, “We all are trying to save this marriage. Lalu Prasad must not face mental agony because of family matters. The two families have been working this out.”