Tej Pratap Yadav: Disowned by Family, Open to Post-Election Alliances in Bihar

Tej Pratap Yadav was disowned by his family and dropped from RJD in May.

Patna:

Tej Pratap Yadav, the estranged son of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Yadav, indicated he has "options" following the election. He stated that the people of Mahua are now his only family, subtly suggesting that he harbors no ill feelings towards anyone - a significant statement given his current political and family circumstances. When questioned about potential post-election alliances, he avoided a direct answer, saying, "Options are open. There are thousands of options... After victory, all options are open."

When asked about his opposition in Mahua - his constituency - Yadav responded, "I have not done any wrong to anyone. Regardless, whoever it is, people of Mahua want jobs and people choose jobs."

Tej Pratap Yadav -- who was disowned by his family and removed from the Rashtriya Janata Dal in May after his 12-year relationship with a woman became public through a Facebook post which he claimed was hacked - subsequently established the Janshakti Janata Dal or JJD.

Under the blackboard symbol, his party has nominated 22 candidates in Bihar's ongoing assembly election, including in Raghopur, the family stronghold.

Questioned whether the contest in Mahua is political or personal, he replied, "We do not fight with anyone. We do not fight with anyone who is a devotee of Krishna or Mahadev. This is not in our nature."

While the RJD has traditionally aligned with the Opposition, Tej Pratap Yadav, after forming his own party, quoted Lord Krishna from the Mahabharat: "This is a battleground. There is no brother, no nephew, only the enemy," when asked why he was campaigning against the RJD. He had also declared he would "choose death over returning to the RJD."

Today, he remarked, "You asked a question that the family has disowned me. My family is right here. The people of Mahua. Whatever we do, we do it from the heart. And we do not do anything for the leaders."

Tej Pratap's relationship with his family has remained cold since the estrangement. Recently, when he encountered his brother Tejashwi Yadav - Lalu's political heir and the Mahagathbandhan's Chief Ministerial candidate - at Patna airport, they parted ways without speaking.

Their mother, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, has nevertheless extended her blessings to both sons ahead of the election.