The Lalu Prasad Yadav family is facing an unprecedented public rupture following the dramatic announcement by his daughter, Rohini Acharya, that she is quitting politics and “disowning” her family. This development, which comes just a day after the RJD’s crushing defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, underscores a severe and persistent internal crisis that began months ago with the expulsion of her elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav.

The core of the conflict appears to be a power struggle surrounding heir-apparent Tejashwi Yadav and the expanding influence of his non-family political advisors.

1. The Shock Announcement and the Accused Aides

Rohini Acharya, a doctor who gained national respect for donating a kidney to her father in 2022, dropped the bombshell on X, directly blaming two close associates of Tejashwi Yadav:

• The Statement: “I’m quitting politics and I’m disowning my family. This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do…and I’m taking all the blame.”
• The Allegation of Abuse: Later, speaking to reporters, Rohini claimed she had been “thrown out of the family” by them, alleging she was “disgraced, abused, and even hit” when she questioned Sanjay Yadav about the RJD’s election debacle.

Who are Sanjay Yadav and Rameez?

• Sanjay Yadav: An RJD Rajya Sabha MP and Tejashwi Yadav’s highly influential and most trusted political advisor.Resentment toward Sanjay is not new; he has been blamed by family members for overreach in party matters, including ticket distribution.
• Rameez: Reportedly an old friend of Tejashwi Yadav who hails from a political family in Uttar Pradesh. Local reports indicate Rameez has a controversial background with serious criminal allegations, including murder, linked to his father-in-law, a former SP strongman.

2. A Pattern of Resentment and Public Attacks

Rohini’s final outburst was the culmination of months of simmering tensions, largely focused on Sanjay Yadav’s growing authority:

• Symbolic Protest: In September, Rohini indirectly criticized Sanjay Yadav by sharing a social media post that objected to him occupying the front seat of Tejashwi’s campaign bus (the ‘Rath’), a seat traditionally reserved for the highest leadership.
• Defending Her Sacrifice: Following the initial rift, she had to issue strong public statements defending the authenticity of her kidney donation to her father, suggesting that internal family criticism or rumors were being spread to diminish her influence.
• Unfollowing Family: She signaled her displeasure earlier by unfollowing all political figures and family members on social media.

3. The Shadow of Tej Pratap’s Expulsion

The feud involving Rohini echoes the drama surrounding her elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, earlier this year.

• Expulsion: Lalu Yadav formally expelled Tej Pratap from both the family and the party for six years after he controversially declared a relationship on social media, reigniting debate over his personal life and ongoing divorce case.
• The Common Enemy: Tej Pratap, who subsequently formed his own party (Janshakti Janta Dal) and lost his assembly seat, has also publicly blamed Sanjay Yadav for his estrangement, even calling him a “Jaichand” (traitor).

Many political observers believe Rohini was angry over Tej Pratap’s humiliation, and the family’s tolerance for an outsider like Sanjay Yadav, while sidelining both the elder brother and sister, became an intolerable affront to her self-respect, loyalty, and the family’s traditional structure.

4. Electoral Defeat as the Catalyst

Rohini Acharya’s decision to sever ties came precisely the day after the RJD’s devastating performance in the Bihar elections, where the party’s seat tally plummeted from 75 to just 25.

The magnitude of the defeat delivered a major blow to Tejashwi Yadav’s leadership and appears to have triggered an immediate and bitter blame game, resulting in Rohini being “expelled” or pushed out when she demanded accountability from Tejashwi’s inner circle.

The Lalu Yadav family feud has thus transitioned from an issue of sibling rivalry to a crisis over the party’s leadership, strategy, and accountability following a major political setback.

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