In a major political development with deep personal ramifications, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has expelled his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from both the party and the family for six years.

The dramatic announcement was made by Lalu himself through a social media post on Sunday (May 25) evening, citing a breach of personal and public conduct.

“Disregarding moral values in personal life undermines our collective struggle for social justice,” Lalu wrote on Facebook.

“The actions, public conduct, and irresponsible behaviour of my elder son do not align with our family values and traditions. Due to these extreme circumstances, I am removing him from both the party and the family. From now on, he will have no role in the party or the family. He is expelled from the party for six years,” the post read.

Lalu also urged others to use their discretion in maintaining any personal or political ties with Tej Pratap.

“I have always been an advocate of public accountability in public life. Obedient members of my family have followed this principle. Thank you,” he added.

Trigger: A Facebook Post About Long-Term Relationship

The expulsion comes shortly after Tej Pratap Yadav posted on Facebook, revealing a 12-year relationship with a woman named Anushka Yadav. The post included a photograph of the two together and read, “I am Tej Pratap Yadav and the woman in the photo is Anushka Yadav. We have been in a relationship for 12 years. I wanted to tell you all for a long time, but I couldn’t understand how to say it… so today I have spoken through this post. I hope you will understand my point.”

The post rapidly went viral and was followed by a surge of unverified photos and videos on social media, some claiming the couple had secretly married.

The episode sparked controversy, particularly given that Tej Pratap’s 2018 marriage to Aishwarya Rai, daughter of politician Chandrika Rai, ended in a contentious divorce case that is still pending.

Amid the social media frenzy, Tej Pratap later deleted the post and claimed that his Facebook account had been hacked. He stated on X, “My social media platforms have been hacked and my pictures are being wrongly edited to harass and defame me and my family members. I appeal to my well-wishers and followers to be cautious and not pay heed to any rumours.”

Tej Pratap, known for his religious devotion and musical interests, has often made headlines for controversial statements and actions.

In 2020, he had dismissed veteran socialist leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh’s resignation from the party by comparing him to a "mug of water" in the "ocean" of the RJD. In 2021, he clashed with party president Jagdanand Singh over the sacking of Akash Yadav from the youth wing, prompting him to launch a parallel outfit called ‘Chhatra Jan Shakti Parishad.’

This is not the first time he has been expelled. A similar disciplinary action was taken against him in 2021, though it was later reversed.

The timing of the latest expulsion is viewed as an attempt by the RJD leadership to avoid potential embarrassment ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections scheduled later this year.

Political observers believe the move also signals Lalu’s intent to tighten control over the party's image in the post-Lalu era, especially amid growing speculation about leadership succession.

With this action, the RJD finds itself navigating complex waters — balancing family dynamics, electoral strategy, and public perception — all in the run-up to a crucial election season.