Patna: Tej Pratap Yadav, the estranged elder son of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, is preparing to float a new political party ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, according to sources close to the development. While an official announcement is awaited, the move comes weeks after his expulsion from both the party and his family, reportedly following the public revelation of his relationship with Anushka Yadav.
Political circles in Bihar are abuzz with speculation that Anushka may also join Tej Pratap’s yet-to-be-named outfit, marking her formal entry into politics. The nature of her role, however, remains uncertain at this stage.
Since his expulsion, Tej Pratap has been operating out of his government residence in Patna, where he is said to be regularly meeting supporters and planning his next political steps. On July 10, he travelled to Mahua in Vaishali district, a former constituency of his, where he notably replaced the RJD flag on his vehicle with a different one—absent Lalu Prasad’s image. The symbolic gesture has fuelled further chatter about his impending political realignment.
In Mahua, where he served as MLA from 2015 to 2020, Tej Pratap addressed his supporters and hinted at contesting the seat again, despite currently holding the Hasanpur seat in Samastipur district.
The family feud came to light two months ago when Tej Pratap shared a photograph with Anushka on social media, claiming they had been in a relationship for 12 years. Although the post was soon deleted, other photos of the pair began circulating widely online. Soon after, Lalu Yadav expelled Tej Pratap from the RJD for six years and distanced him from the family, escalating the public rift.
