Tejashwi Yadav’s elder brother Tej Pratap who has emerged as his rival has mocked Tejashwi’s projection as Jan Nayak of Bihar once again exposing the steep chasms within the Lalu Prasad Yadav family.
In a direct jibe at the RJD’s heir apparent, Tej Pratap stated, “Tejashwi cannot be a ‘jan nayak’ because his power and influence do not come from the public; they come because of our father [Lalu Prasad Yadav]. The day he truly becomes a jan nayak, we will be the first to call him one.” This statement cuts to the core of the family’s succession battle, asserting that Tejashwi’s political standing is inherited rather than earned through independent public mandate or struggle. Tej Pratap further emphasised that the honorific “Jan Nayak” is reserved for political stalwarts like Karpoori Thakur and Ram Manohar Lohia, suggesting Tejashwi is yet to reach that stature. Tej Pratap is also contesting the forthcoming Bihar elections.
Tejashwi Yadav has successfully stepped out of the vast shadow of his father, reshaping the RJD’s image to focus on “jobs and development.” However, his ascendancy to the apex of the RJD command comes with the immense pressure of managing a vast and politically powerful family. The challenge lies in balancing the public face of family unity—a traditional pillar of strength in Bihar’s caste-based politics—with the complex reality of internal rivalries and the centralization of political power under his leadership. The stability of the RJD and the future of the Lalu Prasad Yadav clan’s political dominance hinges critically on his ability to manage this highly volatile sibling dynamic.
Tejashwi is the youngest of nine siblings—seven sisters and one elder brother—all born into the state’s most prominent political family. While the family presents a united front during key political junctures, the dynamics are a constant source of public speculation and internal party tension, revolving primarily around the official political succession and power within the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The core of the family and party feud stems from the formal anointing of the younger son, Tejashwi, over the elder, Tej Pratap, and the subsequent consolidation of power, a process driven by pragmatism, capability, and the political exigencies of a post-Lalu era.
Here we analyse the different family rivalries in the Yadav family.
I. The Core Rivalry: Tejashwi vs. Tej Pratap Yadav
The public and most damaging rift is with Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder brother. The competition is not just for the family name, but for political authority.
A. Reasons for Tejashwi’s Selection and Tej Pratap’s Isolation:
- Political Acumen and Stability: The principal reason for the switch in succession is widely seen as Tejashwi’s superior political maturity, consistency, and ability to lead the party as a cohesive unit. As Lalu Prasad Yadav faced incarceration, Tejashwi took the helm, displaying a focused campaign strategy centered on youth, employment, and economic justice, successfully distancing the RJD from the negative imagery of its “Jungle Raj” past.
- Maverick vs. Mainstream: Tej Pratap, by contrast, has been consistently viewed as a political maverick, prone to impulsive actions, public spiritual displays, and controversial statements that often proved to be an embarrassment or distraction for the party. The RJD leadership ultimately found Tejashwi to possess the gravitas and policy focus needed to negotiate with allies and appeal to a broader electorate.
- Formal Expulsion: The feud escalated dramatically when the patriarch, Lalu Prasad Yadav, formally expelled Tej Pratap from the RJD for six years, citing “irresponsible conduct.” This was a clear message from the family’s senior-most members supporting Tejashwi’s consolidation of power. Tejashwi, for his part, publicly endorsed the decision, stressing the need for party discipline.
II. The Sister’s Challenge: Rohini Acharya and the ‘Loyalty Premium’
While all seven sisters generally maintain solidarity, the dynamics with Rohini Acharya illustrate the tension between personal loyalty and centralized political power.
- The Basis of Challenge: Rohini Acharya earned widespread admiration and deep familial clout by donating a kidney to her father. This act conferred a “loyalty premium” that she and her supporters felt entitled to translate into political influence.
- The Point of Conflict: The friction arose when Tejashwi imposed a self-limiting “one-family, one-ticket” rule, seen as a strategic move to manage the family’s image and centralize power around himself. This rule reportedly prevented her from securing a ticket for a desired family member or herself.
- The Trusted Aide Factor: Her reported displeasure also targeted the increasing influence of Tejashwi’s close political advisor, Sanjay Yadav, which she and her supporters saw as an outsider usurping political space that should belong to family. Her act of unfollowing RJD and family members on social media and the subsequent public rallying by her supporters demanding “Rohini Acharya Zindabad” highlighted the challenge to Tejashwi’s absolute command.
III. The Unified Front: Misa Bharti and the Family’s Matriarchal Support
Despite the visible feuds, Tejashwi benefits from the strong, unwavering support of his mother, Rabri Devi, and his eldest sister, Misa Bharti (Rajya Sabha MP). Misa has been a close political confidante and anchor, maintaining the image of a unified core command structure essential for the RJD’s stability. The support of the RJD’s matriarchal figure and senior political sibling provides the necessary legitimacy for Tejashwi to navigate the internal dissent and focus on the external political battle.
The Lalu family’s story under Tejashwi is one of a complex power transfer, where ability has trumped the traditional hierarchy of age, but at the cost of public, internal rivalry. Tejashwi’s success depends not only on winning the electoral mandate but also on his long-term ability to contain the dynastic fault lines that continue to challenge his authority.
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