In a rare and emotionally charged interaction, Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, met his estranged parents and younger brother Tejashwi Yadav at a feast hosted by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Tuesday in Patna. The gathering, held on the eve of the Makar Sankranti festival, brought together leaders from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, Janata Dal (United) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) chief Santosh Kumar Suman.

The event presented an unusual political and personal confluence, as Tej Pratap, who has been estranged from his family since his expulsion from the RJD last year, found himself interacting with his father, mother, and brother in a public setting. Following his departure from the RJD, Tej Pratap had launched his own political outfit, the Janshakti Janata Dal, and had been at odds with his family, with Lalu Prasad reportedly disowning him due to what he termed “irresponsible behaviour.”

Tej Pratap took to X to share the experience, emphasizing both the personal and festive nature of the meeting. “Today, I reached the residence at 10 Circular Road and met my father, the honorable Shri Lalu Prasad Yadav Ji, and my mother, the honorable Smt. Rabri Devi Ji, to seek their blessings. I also met my younger brother and the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Tejashwi, and invited him by handing over an invitation letter for the ‘Historic Dahi-Chuda Feast’ program to be held tomorrow, January 14, on the occasion of Makar Sankranti,” he wrote.

The feast, a traditional Makar Sankranti ritual featuring dahi-chuda—a preparation of flattened rice with yogurt—is culturally significant in Bihar and Jharkhand. Tej Pratap described the interaction as warm and personal, noting that he had “the wonderful moment of playing with my dear niece Katyayani in my lap.” The post, shared widely on social media, portrayed a softer, familial side of the often-politically embroiled leader.

On Wednesday, addressing media persons at the feast he organized, Tej Pratap expressed optimism that all family members would attend. “If Teju Bhaiya’s feast won’t be a super duper hit, then whose will be… A grand feast of dahi-chuda was organised… Our parents are God to us, so I will continue to receive their blessings… Everyone will come,” he said.

Tej Pratap’s relationship with his family has been strained for several months. A few days after his expulsion from the RJD, he alleged that a “conspiracy” was orchestrated to drive a wedge between him and Tejashwi Yadav, referring to the crisis metaphorically as the work of ‘Jaichand’, a historical symbol of betrayal. This public airing of grievances followed months of political and personal tension within the Yadav family, which has historically been a cornerstone of Bihar’s political landscape.

The feast hosted by Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha served as both a political and social platform, drawing senior NDA leaders and creating an unusual opportunity for reconciliation—or at least a temporary rapprochement—between Tej Pratap and his family. While the visit was brief, it allowed the elder Yadav son to participate in a traditional festival, seek parental blessings, and publicly extend an invitation for his own dahi-chuda feast, highlighting the intertwined nature of family and politics in Bihar.

Observers note that while the meeting was cordial, it remains to be seen whether it will lead to a longer-term thaw in relations between Tej Pratap and the RJD family. For now, the occasion allowed a rare moment of connection amid ongoing political differences and personal estrangement.