Tej Pratap Reunites with Woman at Center of Controversial Photo That Sparked His Party Exit

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav met Anushka Yadav—the woman behind a controversy that resulted in him being ousted from both his party and family—on Tuesday.

The nearly five-hour meeting came weeks after a viral image of the two had set off a storm on social media, causing political and personal upheaval.

Addressing the media after the meeting, Tej Pratap stated, "We have family relations, so I have come here. No one can prevent me from going anywhere. I am in touch with everyone."

Last month, Tej Pratap was photographed with Anushka Yadav on his Facebook page, with a caption that implied that the couple had been together for 12 years. While the post was removed soon afterward—with Tej Pratap stating that his account was hacked—the furore it created could not be undone.

On May 25, a day after the post became viral online, Lalu Prasad Yadav ousted his older son from the RJD for six years and publicly disowned him, incurring "irresponsible behaviour."

The row escalated with more photographs of Tej Pratap and Anushka Yadav going viral on social media. The incident also elicited a response from his estranged wife, Aishwarya Rai.

Now everybody knows the truth. I want to ask that if everybody knew about it, then why did he marry me? Why did he destroy my life?" Ms Rai said in a tearful public statement. "The 12-year secret is out now. If it was happening all these years, then surely his family knew about it," she said, noting the since-deleted Facebook post.

Tej Pratap and Aishwarya Rai—granddaughter of ex-Bihar Chief Minister Daroga Prasad Rai—got married in 2018. The marriage, however, was brief, and the couple initiated divorce proceedings within months. The case is still sub judice.

Overcome with emotion, Ms Rai blamed her in-laws for having tricked her into the wedding. "They destroyed my life by marrying me off to someone who was already in a long-term relationship," she claimed.

After his party suspension, Tej Pratap asserted that there was a deeper conspiracy at work, alleging attempts to strain his relationship with his younger brother and RJD chief ministerial face, Tejashwi Yadav. In a series of X (formerly Twitter) posts, he hinted at betrayal referencing historical as well as mythological affairs.

"Those having an aspiration of a conflict between me and Arjun, will never be able to achieve conspiracy. They may win over Krishna's army, but can't apprehend Krishna. I will sooner reveal every such conspiracy," he wrote in the style of Mahabharata symbolism.

Although he did not directly name his brother, he appended a message showing an implication of loyalty and familial interest: "My brother, I would request you to have confidence that I am with you in all situations. My blessings were always with you and will be so forever. Take care of Mummy and Papa, Jaichand is outside as well as inside."

The crisis breaks out mere months before the Bihar Assembly elections, when the RJD will fight under the charge of Tejashwi Yadav. Two-time MLA Tej Pratap started his political career in the 2015 assembly elections and had short tenures in the state cabinet.

Now that his private life is in the spotlight and his political career in jeopardy, Tej Pratap Yadav is facing both public scandal and internal family conflict—just when Bihar prepares for a pivotal election season.