The family and political conflict within the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has once again surfaced. Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, has now stirred up political circles by openly challenging his younger brother and Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav.
Bihar Politics: The internal discord within Lalu Yadav's family has once again become the subject of headlines in Bihar politics. Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, has caused a stir in political corridors by publicly challenging his younger brother and former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav.
Tej Pratap Yadav's Challenge to 'Play the Flute'
Tej Pratap Yadav has started his new political innings as an independent candidate from the Mahua assembly seat. While campaigning in Mahua, he not only launched a scathing attack on Tejashwi Yadav but also criticized the current party MLA, Mukesh Roshan. Tej Pratap claimed that democracy has ended within the RJD, and now he will fight on his own by going among the people.
Speaking at an election meeting, Tej Pratap Yadav said, "If Tejashwi considers himself Arjuna, then he should first show how to play the flute. Everyone knows what the relationship between Arjuna and Krishna is. Tejashwi was called Arjuna, but now he wants to prove himself to be Krishna. First, play the flute, then I will believe it." This statement has once again made it clear that the estrangement between the two brothers has now turned into a public conflict.
'Impersonator' Remark on Mukesh Roshan
Tej Pratap referred to Mukesh Roshan, the current RJD MLA from Mahua, as an 'impersonator.' He said, "There is an impersonator roaming around here, who cries every time. When that impersonator cries, hand him a rattle. Whenever I come to Mahua, he starts crying." Tej Pratap's statement makes it clear that he is directly challenging Mukesh Roshan's political hold on this seat.
During the election campaign, Tej Pratap Yadav also made several development-related promises for Mahua. He said that a separate building would be constructed to organize the Parsaunia vegetable market, which would provide women and poor vegetable vendors with a safe and organized space. In addition, he also assured to prioritize road, electricity, and employment for the youth in the area.
Expulsion from RJD and Political Isolation
A few months ago, Tej Pratap Yadav was expelled from the RJD, after which he remained away from public platforms for a long time. But now he is making a comeback as an independent candidate, and his strategy seems to be directly challenging the RJD leadership, especially Tejashwi Yadav. This rift within the RJD is not new, but this time Tej Pratap's contesting independently, and publicly challenging Tejashwi, are serious signs for both the party and the family. While Tejashwi Yadav is considered the main face of the party, Tej Pratap's rebellion could politically destabilize the RJD.
Political analysts believe that Tej Pratap's rebellion could cause seat-level losses to the RJD, especially in areas where the Yadav vote bank plays a decisive role. If Tej Pratap gets local support, it could raise questions about Tejashwi's leadership ability.
