New Delhi [India], May 25 : RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's dramatic decision to expel his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav from both the party and the family has opened a window for sharp reactions from leaders of the ruling JD(U), who accuse Lalu of double standards and dynastic politics.
In Delhi, senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi, commenting on the controversy said, "In public life, if you are immoral in your private life, you cannot be ethical in politics - this is the result of that. First, Bihar was ruined; now the family is being ruined. In politics, people's private and public lives are not separate."
Adding to the criticism, JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar pointedly questioned Lalu's newfound sense of conscience. "This is a matter of Lalu Prasad Yadav's family. When the granddaughter of Bihar's famous politician Daroga Prasad Rai was thrown out of the house, did your (Lalu Yadav's) culture not awaken, and today your conscience has awakened?" he asked.
Neeraj also mocked the 'contradictory' messaging within the Yadav family. "Tejashwi Yadav says that Tej Pratap Yadav is our elder brother. What kind of cat-and-mouse game is this?" he said, calling it a political spectacle.
Taking a broader cultural stance, he concluded, "Respecting daughters has been the culture of this country -- not just the politics of Bihar."
The expulsion came after former Bihar Minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Saturday claimed that his Facebook account was hacked, following a post that claimed he was in a long-term relationship with a woman.
The post prompted netizens to recall his marital dispute that made headlines a few years ago. On Saturday, Tej Pratap Yadav took to X to claim that his social media accounts were compromised and his photos had been maliciously edited.
Yadav had tied the knot with Aishwarya, granddaughter of former Bihar Chief Minister Daroga Rai. However, within a few months, Aishwarya left his house alleging that she was driven out by her husband and in-laws and couple's divorce petition is pending before the family court.
Explaining the reason behind this decision, Lalu Yadav said that his son's conduct was not in line with the family's traditions and values. He stressed that neglecting moral standards in personal life weakens the broader struggle for social justice.
In a statement on X, Lalu Yadav said, "The activities, public behaviour, and irresponsible conduct of my eldest son are not in line with our family's values and cultural ethos. Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The activities, public conduct and irresponsible behaviour of the eldest son are not in accordance with our family values and traditions."
He further announced, "Therefore, due to the above circumstances, I remove him from the party and family. From now on, he will not have any role of any kind in the party and family. He is expelled from the party for six years. He is capable of seeing the good and bad and merits and demerits of his personal life."
Lalu Yadav also said that anyone who wishes to maintain contact with Tej Pratap is free to make their own decisions. "All those who will have relations with him should take their own decisions. I have always been an advocate of public shame in public life. The obedient members of the family have adopted and followed this idea in public life. Thank you," he said.
Reacting to the situation, Tej Pratap's younger brother and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav said that while the developments are unfortunate, the matter is personal.
"We cannot tolerate such things; we are working and are dedicated to the people of Bihar. If it's about my big brother, political life and personal life are different. He has the right to make his personal decisions. He is an adult and free to make decisions. Our party's chief has made it clear, and ever since he has said so, it is his feelings. We didn't question such things. What he is doing in his personal life, nobody asks before doing anything. I have come to know about it via the media only."
Apart from this, RJD leader and daughter to Lalu Yadav, Rohini Acharya also come out in strong support of her father decision and expressed her thoughts in a post on X.
She wrote, "Those who take care of the dignity of the environment, tradition, family and upbringing are never questioned. Those who abandon their wisdom and repeatedly commit the mistake of crossing the limits of decent conduct and family prestige, they make themselves the subject of criticism."
Reaffirming her loyalty to Lalu Prasad Yadav and the values he represents, she added, "For us, Papa is like God, family is our temple and pride and the party built by Papa's tireless efforts and struggles, and the concept of social justice is our worship. We will never accept that the reputation of these three is tarnished due to anyone."
Amid all this, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, a staunch critic of Lalu Yadav, posed a question, asking, "What Bihar has to do with Lalu Yadav expelling someone from the party and family?" and described Lalu as "dynast" who want his son to be Bihar CM.
Speaking to reporters in Vaishali, Kishor said, "What Bihar has to do with Lalu Yadav expelling someone from the party and family? Did Lalu Yadav say that if there is any able person from the Yadav caste, he will make him the leader? Even now, Lalu Yadav wants Tejashwi Yadav to be the CM. If today, Lalu Yadav declares someone from the Yadav caste as the CM face, except Tejashwi Yadav, Jan Siraaj will support him. In reality, these parties that are doing the politics of caste are doing the politics of family."
Tej Pratap Yadav's expulsion comes months ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. While his brother and Lalu Yadav's political heir Tejashwi is leading the RJD campaign.