During a meeting of RJD legislators in Patna, party leader Lalu Prasad Yadav urged party members and the public to focus on strengthening the party instead of the ongoing family discord. He emphasized that the issue is a private matter that will be resolved within the family. The assembly also showed unanimous support for his younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, who was appointed as the leader of the RJD legislative party.
Lalu’s comments followed his daughter Rohini Acharya’s emotional declaration on social media, in which she announced her withdrawal from politics and distanced herself from the family, attributing her decision to the influence of RJD Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav and Tejashwi’s aide Rameez, especially after the RJD’s disappointing performance in the Bihar elections, securing only 25 seats, its lowest in a decade. Following Rohini’s announcement, her sisters Chanda, Ragini, and Hema also left their father’s home, claiming a breach of trust and favouritism towards outsiders. Rohini, who is a doctor and Lalu’s second daughter, previously ran for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Saran but lost to BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
Their elder sister, Misa Bharti, an MP from Patliputra, supported Lalu’s perspective, calling for media focus on NDA’s election commitments regarding job creation and industrial growth rather than family disputes. Tensions in the family first emerged during the Bihar Adhikar Yatra when Rohini objected to Sanjay Yadav sitting in the front seat of Tejashwi’s vehicle. This issue later grew to include broader accusations of interference by Sanjay and Rameez in both party and family matters. After the election results, Rohini claimed she endured humiliation and verbal abuse, stating that someone had even raised a slipper at her.
Meanwhile, Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, who was expelled earlier and now leads his own party, JJD, publicly criticized Tejashwi, attributing the family split to the party’s electoral defeat. Lalu’s brother-in-law, Sadhu Yadav, condemned Tejashwi’s actions, calling Rohini’s treatment unjust and urging the removal of the controversial aides to prevent further escalation. The BJP has seized the opportunity to criticize Lalu, branding it as evidence of dysfunction within the family.
