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The Expulsion of Tej Pratap Yadav Was Not Only a Swift Move to Prevent Embarrassment Ahead of the State Polls But Also Sent a Clear Message That Sibling Rivalry Would Not Be Tolerated Within the Party.

- Anirban Guha Roy

PATNA: Former minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad's elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, who was expelled from the party last Sunday after reportedly posting pictures with a woman on social media, has been lying low for the past several days—apparently in a bid to avoid further trouble.

If the episode has put the 37-year-old Tej Pratap in a politically tight spot—especially after RJD chief Lalu Prasad himself denounced his actions as irresponsible and against the family's values—it has also seemingly given some "advantage points" to his younger brother, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, helping him further consolidate his position in the party, party insiders say.

"In a way, Tejashwi has been the undeclared number two in the party, taking all key decisions for the last few years. He is the face of the party after the RJD chief. There were times when Tejashwi faced uncomfortable situations due to his elder brother's off-the-cuff remarks on organisational matters and even on ticket distribution. This was seen as sibling rivalry. But now it's clear Tejashwi is in the driver's seat and has little challenge from his siblings, especially his elder brother," said a senior RJD leader, seeking anonymity.

RJD leaders said that the expulsion of Tej Pratap was not only a swift move to prevent further embarrassment ahead of the state polls but also sent a clear message that sibling rivalry would not be tolerated within the party. They pointed out how Tejashwi strongly defended the RJD chief's decision, even as their elder sisters, MP Misa Bharti and Rohini Acharya, also supported the expulsion.

"There isn't much left for Tej Pratap, who has become quite isolated now. Unless he manages to reconcile with his family soon, he doesn't have any significant say in the party. It's all Tejashwi and the RJD chief who are in charge," said another RJD leader.