Lalu expels son Tej Pratap from RJD, says he ‘ignored moral values’

“The elder son’s activities, public conduct and irresponsible behaviour are not aligned with our family's values,” Lalu Yadav said, adding, “In the current situation, I am removing him from the party and the family. He will have no role from here on.”

The RJD patriarch also said Tej Pratap was free to take personal decisions, but people could independently choose whether to associate with him.

The action comes after a social media post—now deleted—was shared from Tej Pratap’s verified Facebook account, featuring a photo of him with a woman identified as Anushka Yadav.

The caption claimed the two had been in a relationship for 12 years. “We both love each other deeply… I wanted to share this with all of you,” the post had said.

The post triggered sharp criticism online, with many questioning why the RJD leader married Aishwarya Rai, daughter of former Bihar minister Chandrika Rai, in 2018 if he was already in a long-term relationship.

Tej Pratap and Aishwarya separated a few months after their wedding.

Soon after the controversy erupted, Tej Pratap disowned the post, alleging his social media account had been hacked.

“My platform was hacked and the photos were edited wrongfully,” he posted on X.

Younger brother and party leader Tejashwi Yadav distanced himself from the episode. “Such things cannot be tolerated,” he said. “He is an adult and free to make personal choices. But our party president has made the stand clear.”

Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya also took a veiled swipe at her brother, writing on X, “Those who uphold family values and decency never face questions. Those who forsake dignity draw criticism.”

The controversy comes at an awkward moment for the RJD as it prepares for the Bihar Assembly elections later this year.