'Intolerable': Tejashwi backs father Lalu Yadav's decision to expel brother Tej Pratap

NEW DELHI: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday reacted to his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav ’s Facebook "relationship confession," saying, "we cannot tolerate such things," but added that Tej Pratap is "an adult and free to make his own decisions".

Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav , revealed on Saturday that he has been in a relationship for the past 12 years, raising eyebrows, as he married the granddaughter of a prominent Bihar politician in 2018 and is currently involved in a legal battle over divorce.

Within hours, however, Tej Pratap removed the Facebook post and claimed that his account was hacked and that an attempt was being made to defame him and his family using AI-generated photos.

Responding to the whole incident, Tejashwi Yadav, Bihar's ex-deputy CM, said: "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."

Tejashwi also reiterated Lalu's decision to expel Tej Pratap from the party and the family, saying: "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."

#WATCH | Patna | RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav expels his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav from the party for 6 years, he also removed him from the family.

RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, "We cannot tolerate such things, we are working and are dedicated to the people of Bihar. If it's… pic.twitter.com/gSJ5ubyIyz

— ANI (@ANI) May 25, 2025

Lalu Prasad on Sunday expelled his eldest son from the party for six years, citing ignorance of "moral values" in his personal life. In a post on X, Lalu said Tej Pratap’s behaviour does not align with the family’s values and traditions.

“Ignoring moral values in personal life weakens our collective struggle for social justice. The actions, public conduct, and irresponsible behavior of my eldest son are not in accordance with our family’s principles. Therefore, under these circumstances, I am removing him from the party and the family. Effective immediately, he will have no role of any kind in either. He is expelled from the party for six years,” Lalu Yadav wrote on X.

“He is capable of judging what is right or wrong in his personal life. Those who choose to associate with him should make their own decisions. I have always supported accountability in public life, and obedient members of our family have upheld this principle,” he further added.

निजी जीवन में नैतिक मूल्यों की अवहेलना करना हमारे सामाजिक न्याय के लिए सामूहिक संघर्ष को कमज़ोर करता है। ज्येष्ठ पुत्र की गतिविधि, लोक आचरण तथा गैर जिम्मेदाराना व्यवहार हमारे पारिवारिक मूल्यों और संस्कारों के अनुरूप नहीं है। अतएव उपरोक्त परिस्थितियों के चलते उसे पार्टी और परिवार…

— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) May 25, 2025

The 37-year-old RJD leader had married Aishwarya Rai , granddaughter of former Bihar chief minister Daroga Rai, in a grand ceremony in 2018. But the marriage did not work out, and within months, Aishwarya left his home, accusing Tej Pratap and his family of mistreatment.

The fallout led to a high-profile legal battle and political drama, with her father, former minister Chandrika Roy, quitting the RJD and vowing to fight for his daughter both "politically and legally".

Their divorce proceedings remain active in the local family court. Both parties continue to make accusations. While Tej Pratap Yadav accused his wife of demanding a large alimony amount, Aishwarya alleged that he had troubling behaviour, claiming he took drugs and privately dressed like a woman.