In what would have sent the warning bells ringing for the RJD in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls, Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu’s elder son, has decided to float a new party, ‘Lalu-Rabri Morcha’. This comes days after he resigned as the ‘sanrakshak’ (mentor) of the RJD’s student wing. He had taken to Twitter for announcing his resignation from the RJD’s student wing and had said, “I am resigning from the post of Chhatra Rashtriya Janata Dal Sanrakshak. Those who think I am ignorant are ignorant themselves. I am well aware of who is worth what.”
https://twitter.com/TejYadav14/status/1111229882535694337
While telling reporters about his decision to float the new political outfit, Tej Pratap confirmed that his decision was prompted by strained ties with his younger brother and RJD chief, Tejashwi Yadav. He said that his younger brother was surrounded by sycophants who had turned Tejashwi against him. Tej Pratap added, “Like the Pandavas had asked for just five villages, I had asked for just two seats. I never got an answer for that.” Therefore, Tej Pratap Yadav drew an analogy with the Mahabharata in order to elaborate upon the clash which has broken out within Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family.
Tej Pratap Yadav was said to be unhappy for some time in view of an ego clash with his younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, who is the RJD chief and the preferred political successor of Lalu Prasad Yadav. However, the latest clash which led to Tej Pratap Yadav forming a new political outfit and equating his strained relations with the Mahabharata concerned two Lok Sabha seats. Tej Pratap had demanded two seats for his close aides. However, his demand was rejected by the party. In fact, his father-in-law, Chandrika Rai, has been given an election ticket from the Saran Lok Sabha seat by the RJD. Tej Pratap Yadav who had a failed marriage with his wife and has also filed for a divorce was dead against the move to field Chandrika Rai from the Saran parliamentary constituency. However, his objection was overruled by both Tejashwi Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav. It seems that this development prompted Tej Pratap to form a new political outfit ahead of the parliamentary polls.
This development has taken place at a very critical time for the RJD. Apart from the demoralisation of party cadres and workers, the family feud by itself must have left the party embarrassed. It seems that the party has been unable to handle the feud in the correct manner and this development has put the party in an awkward situation with the Lok Sabha polls merely a couple of weeks away.