Tej Pratap: Rebel without cause, felled by poll cause

PATNA: In Bihar's complex political theatre, few figures are as erratic, unpredictable and, at times, bewildering as Tej Pratap Yadav , elder son of RJD chief Lalu Prasad . Once introduced as a rising heir to his father's legacy, Tej Pratap has evolved into a political liability, a family outcast, and, most curiously, a man whose personal whims have routinely overshadowed the party's agenda.

This election year in Bihar, Tej Pratap has become the proverbial thorn in Lalu's side, a distraction the veteran socialist could no longer ignore. On Saturday, Tej Pratap again seized headlines, not for strategy or statesmanship, but for posting on social media about a new "relation" with a woman. The announcement was casual, dramatic and ambiguous, a pattern now familiar to those who have followed his journey over the past decade.

While dynastic politics in the country often comes with high expectations, Tej Pratap never seemed to settle into the role. His early appearances as state health minister in 2015 - more notable for clumsy media interactions than policy achievements - left many wondering whether he was suited for public life at all. Reports of him consulting astrologers for state matters and allegedly bringing a cow into his ministerial bungalow for "positive energy" became tabloid fodder and marked the beginning of a reputation built more on eccentricity than governance.

Tej Pratap's dramatic personal life has also been central to his public persona. His 2018 marriage to Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former CM Daroga Rai, was supposed to cement a powerful political alliance. Instead, it turned into a scandal. Within months, he filed for divorce, alleging domestic discord, while Aishwarya accused him of abuse and erratic behaviour.

Family tensions spilled into public view as Lalu and Rabri Devi struggled to contain the fallout. In one infamous episode, Tej Pratap declared he was going on a pilgrimage to escape "toxic atmosphere" of home. His tantrums did not stop there. He often skipped key party events, launched public tirades against younger brother Tejashwi Prasad Yadav , now firmly established as Lalu's political heir, and floated vague threats of forming his own political outfit.

Saturday's post, just months before assembly elections, appears to be another in a long line of personal dramas staged in public view.

In a rare but decisive step, Lalu Prasad finally acted. Tej Pratap was formally expelled from RJD and disowned by family. The message was clear - political survival trumps paternal indulgence.