In a bold political comeback marked by symbolism and defiance, former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav, recently expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has launched his own campaign movement—Team Tej Pratap Yadav—hinting at a possible independent run in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.
Sporting his trademark green cap and flanked by loyalists, the flamboyant MLA held a massive roadshow and rally in Mahua, his former constituency. The event was adorned with green-and-white flags bearing the name of his new outfit, signaling a potential shift in Bihar’s political landscape and a brewing Yadav vs. Yadav narrative in the state's heartland.
This was Tej Pratap’s first major public appearance since his father and RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav ousted him from the party in May, citing “indiscipline and repeated embarrassment.” Addressing an emotionally charged crowd, the Hasanpur MLA declared, “I am accountable only to the people. Where the people want me, I will go. Which party I will contest from—that will be decided in time.”
His remarks were a clear indication that he is keeping his political options open, possibly testing waters for a new party or an alliance with smaller regional outfits. Sources close to Tej Pratap suggest that talks are underway with disenchanted elements within the RJD and fringe socialist parties that feel sidelined by the current Mahagathbandhan leadership under his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav.
The rift within the Yadav family deepened after Tej Pratap's controversial social media post in May featuring a woman named Anushka Yadav, which he described as a declaration of his new relationship. Although the post was later deleted with claims of a “Facebook hack,” the incident reportedly triggered a final fallout with Lalu Prasad, who not only expelled his elder son but also severed personal ties.
Tej Pratap’s personal life has long been the subject of public scrutiny. His marriage to Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Bihar CM Daroga Prasad Rai, ended in controversy and legal proceedings barely five months after the wedding in 2018.
