The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) appears to be dealing with potential internal strife within the family of its founder, Lalu Prasad Yadav, ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections in 2025. Cryptic social media posts by Lalu's daughter, Rohini Acharya, have sparked speculation of a family rift, with the primary point of contention seemingly being the growing influence of Sanjay Yadav, a close aide to her brother and former Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav.
Acharya's recent social media activity has raised eyebrows. She posted a series of messages on X (formerly Twitter), asserting her dedication to her duties as a daughter and sister, while also stating that she has no political ambitions and values self-respect above all else. In one post, she shared a video from when she was taken to the operation theatre for donating her kidney to her father in 2022. She wrote, "Those who have the courage to make the biggest sacrifices with their lives on the line carry fearlessness, frankness, and self-respect in their blood". These posts, coupled with her decision to unfollow family members on social media and make her account private, have fueled rumors of a growing rift.
The simmering tensions reportedly stem from objections to Sanjay Yadav's increasing prominence within the party. Sanjay Yadav, who has been a long-time political advisor to Tejashwi Yadav, was recently appointed to the Rajya Sabha. A particular incident that ignited the current controversy involved Sanjay Yadav occupying the front seat of Tejashwi Yadav's vehicle during the Bihar Adhikar Yatra, a position traditionally reserved for top leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav or Tejashwi himself. Acharya publicly criticized this, reposting a social media comment that questioned Sanjay's growing influence and apparent disregard for established party hierarchies.
Adding another layer to the family drama, Lalu Prasad Yadav had expelled his elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, from the party earlier in the year. Tej Pratap had previously voiced his displeasure with Sanjay Yadav, even calling him a "Jaichand" (traitor). Following Rohini Acharya's recent social media activity, Tej Pratap has publicly expressed his support for her. "Rohini is absolutely right" he stated.
Tejashwi Yadav has attempted to downplay the situation, dismissing the rumors of a rift as "NDA propaganda". However, the public nature of the dispute has made it difficult to ignore, and it has become a topic of intense speculation in Bihar's political circles.
The timing of this apparent family feud is particularly sensitive, as the RJD prepares for the Bihar Assembly elections in 2025 and engages in seat-sharing negotiations within the INDIA bloc. Such internal conflicts could potentially distract from the party's campaign efforts and impact its performance in the upcoming elections.
Despite the controversy, Acharya maintains she was only fulfilling her duty as a daughter. It is important to note that Rohini Acharya donated her kidney to her father, Lalu Prasad Yadav, in 2022. Lalu Prasad Yadav named Rohini after Dr. Kamala Acharya, the doctor who waived her fees after successfully performing an operation on his wife, Rabri Devi. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rohini Acharya contested from the Saran Lok Sabha constituency but lost to BJP's Rajiv Pratap Rudy. Her sister, Misa Bharti, however, won the Patliputra Lok Sabha seat.
