Patna: Is a patch-up between Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and former railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his estranged elder son Tej Pratap Yadav on the anvil?
Nearly eight months after he expelled Tej Pratap from the party, Lalu turned up at the former’s home to attend a Dahi Chura feast on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on Wednesday..
This came a day after Tej Pratap, a former minister and a former MLA, invited his father and younger brother Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, for the Dahi Chura gathering, as reported by NDTV.
Tej Pratap’s invitation and Lalu’s appearance at his home are significant at a time when not all is well with the family. A few days ago, Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya – who is based in Singapore – posted against elements within the family who are out to destroy the family legacy.
There were indications that she is against Tej Pratap’s removal and Tejashwi’s absolute control over the party.
The RJD suffered a massive setback in the Bihar Assembly elections held in November 2025, managing only 25 seats. Tej Pratap had fought under the banner of Janshakti Janata Dal, but failed to win a single seat.
This family reunion is being seen as a message of unity from the RJD first family under this backdrop.
Despite being shown the door by his father, Tej Pratap did not speak out openly against Lalu or Tejashwi, but blamed conspirators.
Following his visit to his father’s 10, Circular Road, residence in Patna yesterday, Tej Pratap posted pictures with Lalu, Tejashwi, mother Rabri Devi, and niece Katyayini.
Lalu expelled Tej Pratap in May over a social media post about his relationship status that was later deleted. Announcing the decision to expel him, Lalu Prasad Yadav said that “ignoring moral values” in personal life weakens the community’s struggle for social justice.
At the centre of the row was a photograph of Tej Pratap with a woman. The post identified the woman as Anushka Yadav and said she and the RJD leader had been in a relationship for 12 years.
The post was deleted shortly afterwards with Tej Pratap claiming that his profile had been hacked. “My social media platform was hacked and my photographs were edited wrongfully,” he wrote.
Lalu’s move to expel Tej Pratap was supported by others in the family, including Tejashwi Yadav.
