Love, Politics, and Fallout: Tej Pratap Yadav’s revelation of a 12-year relationship with Anushka Yadav sets off a political storm, ending with his dramatic ousting from the RJD.
BY PC Bureau
Patna, May 25, 2025 – In a stunning political development, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav on Sunday expelled his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the party for six years. The disciplinary action, citing “irresponsible conduct” and a deviation from the family’s core values and public decorum, has sent shockwaves across Bihar’s political landscape.
The expulsion came just a day after Tej Pratap, a sitting MLA and former Health Minister of Bihar, disclosed a 12-year-long relationship with a woman he identified as Anushka Yadav. He posted a photograph of the two on social media platform X, sparking intense public and media scrutiny. Though the post was later deleted, the fallout was swift.
In a statement released by the RJD on Sunday, Lalu Prasad Yadav said, “It is with deep regret that I announce Tej Pratap’s expulsion from the Rashtriya Janata Dal for a period of six years. His recent actions have violated the principles our party stands for and brought disrepute to the values we have upheld for decades.”
According to sources within the party, the decision followed internal consultations involving senior leaders, including Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap’s younger brother and Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. The move is widely seen as an attempt by the party to distance itself from mounting controversies and reinforce discipline ahead of key electoral battles.
निजी जीवन में नैतिक मूल्यों की अवहेलना करना हमारे सामाजिक न्याय के लिए सामूहिक संघर्ष को कमज़ोर करता है। ज्येष्ठ पुत्र की गतिविधि, लोक आचरण तथा गैर जिम्मेदाराना व्यवहार हमारे पारिवारिक मूल्यों और संस्कारों के अनुरूप नहीं है। अतएव उपरोक्त परिस्थितियों के चलते उसे पार्टी और परिवार…
— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) May 25, 2025
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Tej Pratap’s social media post and his public admission of a long-standing affair have ignited speculation about tensions within the Yadav family. Political analysts believe his revelation may have been a reaction to internal friction and an effort to assert independence from his family’s political expectations. The disclosure comes despite his high-profile 2018 marriage to Aishwarya Rai, the granddaughter of former Bihar chief minister Daroga Rai—a union that now stands under renewed public scrutiny.
The fallout from Tej Pratap’s personal life has triggered a wider conversation about the intersection of family legacy, public morality, and political responsibility. While some sympathize with him for trying to be honest about his personal life, others have criticized the move as reckless, especially given the timing and its impact on the party’s image.
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“This is more than a family dispute—it’s a public rupture in one of Bihar’s most influential political dynasties,” said a political analyst based in Patna. “The RJD has always walked a tightrope between personality-driven politics and party ideology. This episode could mark a decisive shift.”
Meanwhile, Tej Pratap has yet to issue a formal response to his expulsion. However, sources close to him suggest he may contest the decision or even launch his own political outfit—raising the prospect of a split within the RJD’s youth base, many of whom remain loyal to him.
The saga has also brought renewed focus to his 2018 marriage to Aishwarya Rai, which reportedly faced strain from the beginning. Critics have questioned the wisdom of the match given Tej Pratap’s alleged long-standing emotional bond with Anushka Yadav. Social media has since erupted with polarized reactions, with some accusing him of betrayal, while others argue that personal happiness should not be sacrificed for political optics.
As the drama unfolds, the bigger question looms: Will this rift dent the RJD’s electoral prospects, or will it allow the party—now firmly under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav—to present a more unified and focused image?
For now, one thing is clear: Bihar’s political narrative has taken a deeply personal turn, and the fallout may have lasting repercussions not just for the Yadav family, but for the state’s political future.
