Bihar Loss Sets Off Lalu Family Storm: Rohini’s Claims, Tej Pratap’s Stand And The Camps Emerging

Last Updated:November 17, 2025, 09:57 IST

The days after the Bihar defeat have brought unprecedented upheaval inside the Yadav home, with accusations and alliances now out in the open

(From left) Lalu Prasad, Tejashwi Yadav and Rohini Acharya. (PTI File)

The Rashtriya Janata Dal’s sharp defeat in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections has coincided with an unprecedented breakdown inside the family of its founder. Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya announced she is disowning the family, three more daughters have left the Patna residence, Tej Pratap Yadav has taken an aggressive public position, and close aides around Tejashwi Yadav have been named in allegations. The fallout has turned a political setback into a full-scale family crisis.

What Triggered The Family Breakdown?

The immediate flashpoint came a day after the election results, when Rohini Acharya announced on X that she was quitting politics and distancing herself from the family. She said she was “disowning" the household.

Rohini is a doctor based in Singapore and became widely respected after donating a kidney to Lalu Prasad Yadav. Although not a full-time politician, she has remained a prominent and emotional figure in the party.

Her announcement coincided with the RJD’s electoral collapse. Soon after declaring her exit, she named two people closely associated with Tejashwi Yadav. She wrote: “This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do…and I am taking all the blame." Sanjay Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP, is considered one of Tejashwi’s most trusted aides, while Rameez is an old friend of Tejashwi from a political family in Uttar Pradesh. Neither has commented publicly on her allegation.

Rohini left Rabri Devi’s residence in Patna after making her announcement. The next day, three of her sisters — Ragini, Rajlakshmi and Chanda — also left for Delhi with their children. Hours later, Lalu Yadav’s fourth daughter, Hema Yadav, was seen arriving at the Delhi airport, a video shared by news agency PTI showed.

What Did Rohini Say Happened At The Patna Residence?

After leaving the house, Rohini posted two emotional messages describing what she said she had faced. In one post, she wrote: “Yesterday a daughter, a sister, a married woman, and a mother was insulted. I was abused, a slipper was raised to hit me. I did not give up my self-respect or the truth. Because of this, I had to suffer humiliation. I was forced to leave my crying parents and sisters. I was separated from my own home. I was made an orphan."

Speaking to the media, she also said, “I have family. I was asked to leave by Sanjay Yadav and Ramij, who are friends of Tejashwi Yadav." According to her, she was abused and slippers were raised to hit her.

Rohini’s public stance stood in contrast to her behaviour in the months before the polls. She had unfollowed political figures and family members on social media, accused some people of spreading misinformation about her, defended her kidney donation to Lalu Prasad Yadav and asked her detractors to apologise. Yet she later campaigned for Tejashwi, posted birthday wishes praising him and appeared aligned with the party until her sudden announcement that she was leaving politics and the family.

Where Does Tej Pratap Stand?

The crisis has intersected with an earlier rupture involving Lalu Prasad’s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav. In May this year, he was expelled from both the RJD and the family for six years after a dispute linked to a Facebook post in which he claimed to be in a relationship. The episode revived discussions about his marital issues and divorce case with Aishwarya Rai.

After being expelled, Tej Pratap formed the Janshakti Janta Dal (JJD) and contested the Mahua Assembly seat, where he finished third. The expulsion had already created a division within the household, and many believed Rohini was distressed by the way he was treated.

Following Rohini’s departure from the Patna residence, Tej Pratap publicly supported her. He said: “Yesterday’s incident shook my heart. I tolerated the insult done to me, but I will not tolerate the insult of my sister. Those who attack my family will never be forgiven by the people of Bihar." He said her pain had turned into anger and added that those responsible had misled Tejashwi. Uncle Sadhu Yadav has also publicly supported Rohini.

Rohini’s Political And Personal Journey Before The Fallout

Rohini’s standing within the family and the party has been shaped by several episodes over recent years. Her act of donating a kidney to Lalu Prasad Yadav made her widely admired in Bihar. During the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, she contested the Saran constituency and lost narrowly to the BJP’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Her personal posts, emotional appeals and outspoken messages on social media have often made her a visible figure despite not holding a core organisational role in the RJD.

Her earlier social-media activity, including unfollowing family members and political figures, accusing some people of spreading misinformation, and defending the kidney donation, created speculation about strains. However, her active campaigning for Tejashwi before the 2025 Assembly elections and positive posts about him suggested an alignment that many did not expect would change so abruptly.

Family And Politics Have Intersected Before

The Yadav household has faced other moments where personal matters and political life overlapped. When Lalu Prasad faced corruption charges during the fodder scam, he installed Rabri Devi as chief minister, embedding family leadership directly into party governance.

During her tenure, Subhash Yadav and Sadhu Yadav, Lalu’s brothers-in-law, began meddling in the politics of the RJD.

Tej Pratap’s marriage to Aishwarya Rai created another prolonged period of public attention. Their disagreements and legal proceedings became widely covered, and two years ago, Aishwarya was “literally thrown out of the house" following a dispute. Her political background — as the daughter of Chandrika Rai, who served as a minister in Lalu’s cabinet, and the granddaughter of former chief minister Daroga Prasad Rai — meant the episode had wider political implications.

What Does This Mean For Lalu Prasad Yadav And The RJD?

The RJD is facing one of its most challenging periods in recent years. The drop from 75 seats to about 25 in the Assembly, combined with the Mahagathbandhan’s overall decline to around 35, has already prompted questions about strategy and leadership. The NDA’s rise to 202 seats underscores the scale of the electoral setback.

For Lalu Prasad Yadav, the internal conflict adds another layer of strain. Rohini has used phrases such as “I was made an orphan" and “I was forced to leave my crying parents and sisters," which have drawn attention to the emotional and personal stakes. With Tej Pratap attacking the group around Tejashwi, the household is navigating one of its most complex moments.

For Tejashwi Yadav, the allegations directed at his closest aides have come at a time when he is already dealing with questions about the RJD’s electoral performance. His lack of public comment so far keeps the situation open-ended.

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