Political Dynasty Feuds in India: From Lalu Yadav's Family to Regional Power Struggles

The Rashtriya Janata Dal's devastating performance in the 2025 Bihar Assembly election has revealed deep-seated tensions within Lalu Prasad Yadav's political dynasty. Once commanding 75 seats in 2020, the party crumbled to a mere 25 seats in 2025, marking its worst electoral showing in 15 years. As the Mahagathbandhan alliance shrank to just 35 seats, internal family divisions became publicly visible.

Rohini Acharya, Lalu's second daughter, departed from the family residence in Patna, alleging mistreatment by her brother Tejashwi Yadav and his close associates Sanjay Yadav and Ramiz Khan. She claimed to have faced verbal abuse, physical assault with footwear, and eviction demands. Three other sisters—Rajlakshmi, Ragini, and Chanda—also left with their families.

Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu's elder son who was expelled for six years earlier this year, publicly supported Rohini and criticized Tejashwi's inner circle. His expulsion followed accusations from Lalu about "disregarding moral values" after a controversial Facebook post about a relationship that allegedly tarnished the family's reputation. Subsequently, Tej Pratap established the Janshakti Janata Dal but failed to secure the Mahua constituency in recent elections.

Examining the KCR-KTR-Kavitha conflict in Telangana's BRS party reveals another significant political family dispute. This power struggle between K Chandrashekar Rao's son KT Rama Rao (KTR) and daughter K Kavitha centers on party control. Tensions escalated after Kavitha's 2019 Nizamabad parliamentary defeat, which she attributed to sabotage. The rivalry became public knowledge following BRS's loss in the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections.

In 2024, Kavitha's arrest in the Delhi liquor case prompted her to accuse KTR's supporters of marginalization, leaking private correspondence to KCR, and targeting her through party initiatives. She also alleged discussions about merging BRS with BJP. Opposition figures claimed KTR authorized surveillance of her communications, while senior BRS members defended KTR and criticized Kavitha.

Uttar Pradesh's Samajwadi Party has experienced perhaps the most publicized family feud, involving founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh Yadav and brother Shivpal Yadav. Friction began when Chief Minister Akhilesh started sidelining senior leaders associated with Shivpal. The situation deteriorated in 2016 when Mulayam temporarily removed Akhilesh from the party during an intense struggle for organizational control. This conflict ultimately led Shivpal to establish the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party.

In Maharashtra, Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena legacy sparked internal division. His nephew Raj Thackeray left the Sena after feeling overlooked in favor of Bal's son Uddhav, forming the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2006. A second major split occurred in 2022 when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav, fragmenting the Shiv Sena itself, though this wasn't family-based.

Tamil Nadu's DMK witnessed an extended conflict between MK Stalin and his elder brother MK Alagiri. Feeling marginalized when Stalin emerged as Karunanidhi's chosen successor, their dispute culminated in Alagiri's party suspension. Tensions also existed between the Maran brothers and Stalin's faction regarding business interests and party influence. Currently, speculation continues about Udhayanidhi Stalin's ascent and potential reactions from his aunt Kanimozhi regarding future succession plans.

Haryana's Devi Lal Chautala clan has experienced recurring internal disputes over inheritance and political succession. Former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala's sons, Ajay and Abhay Chautala, developed bitter animosity. Their conflict eventually prompted Ajay's son, Dushyant Chautala, to break away and establish the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP).

Following Ram Vilas Paswan's death in Bihar, his son Chirag Paswan and brother Pashupati Kumar Paras clashed over Lok Janshakti Party control. Paras led a revolt removing Chirag from the parliamentary group. Chirag accused him of betrayal, while Paras argued that Chirag's leadership was undermining the party. The Election Commission recognized separate factions: Chirag's Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Pashupati's Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP).

In Andhra Pradesh, the YSR family experienced a bitter division after YSRCP's 2019 rise to power. YS Sharmila accused her brother YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and cousin Avinash Reddy of involvement in their uncle YS Vivekananda Reddy's 2019 murder. She also disputed family business shares with Jagan before ultimately joining the Congress. The YSRCP's 2024 electoral defeat intensified their estrangement.

Maharashtra's BJP-affiliated Mahajan-Munde families faced multiple crises. Most dramatically, Pravin Mahajan shot his brother Pramod Mahajan in 2006. Later, following Gopinath Munde's death, his daughters Pankaja and Pritam Munde experienced internal friction regarding party roles and electoral aspirations.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi is currently witnessing conflict between founder Dr. S Ramadoss and his son Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. The senior Ramadoss publicly declared his son's elevation to Union minister a "mistake." Their disagreement encompasses political differences, property disputes, and personal grievances, threatening the party's viability before Tamil Nadu's 2026 election.