Turmoil intensifies within Lalu Yadav’s family Daughter Rohini Acharya renounces politics, breaks ties with family
NEW DELHI” A day after the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) suffered a crushing defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, the political crisis within the party has taken a personal turn. A day after the RJD’s crushing defeat in the assembly elections, party chief Lalu Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, dropped a major statement, announcing that she is severing ties with her family and leaving politics.
In a cryptic post on X, Acharya hinted that she was asked to do so by senior RJD leader Sanjay Yadav, a close associate of Tejashwi Yadav. Acharya, who donated a kidney to Lalu Yadav in 2022, also appeared to take the blame, though it’s unclear whether she was referring to the Bihar election defeat or something else.
She wrote, “I am quitting politics and severing ties with my family… Sanjay Yadav and Rameez asked me to do this… and I am taking all the blame.” I am quitting politics and severing ties with my family… Sanjay Yadav and Rameez asked me to do this… and I am taking all the blame.”
Acharya’s post is likely to cause turmoil within the family and the party. Lalu Yadav’s elder son, Tej Pratap, has already been expelled from the party. Tej Pratap formed the Janshakti Janata Dal, which contested the elections alone and even fielded a candidate against Tejashwi in the Raghopur assembly seat. The party failed to win a single seat, including Mahua, where Tej Pratap contested.
Acharya, who was reportedly unhappy with Tej Pratap Yadav’s expulsion, had been expressing her displeasure with the party even before the Bihar assembly elections, but was also seen posting messages of reconciliation.
Around September, Acharya unfollowed all political leaders and family members on social media and then posted a post alleging that false information was being spread about her. “I openly challenge all those with evil intentions and those who encourage such people,” she wrote on X. “If anyone can prove that I ever made any request to anyone for myself or anyone else, and that the claim that I donated my kidney to my revered father is false, I will retire from political and public life.”
She further said, “If those making the allegations cannot prove their lies and propaganda, they should have the courage to publicly apologize to me and every mother, sister, and daughter of the country… and pledge never to spread such false information again.” However, on November 9, between two phases of voting, Acharya wished her brother Tejashwi on his birthday and praised him and his leadership.
He had posted, “Young in age, but true at heart and true to his word. ‘Karmaveer’ – our dutiful brother Tejaswi. Rohini na likha May all your dreams come true, may you fulfill the dreams of the youth of Bihar as well as all the people of Bihar, and may your life always be filled with happiness.” His other recent posts were also in support of the party. RJD won only 25 seats in the 243-member Bihar Assembly and the opposition Grand Alliance was reduced to a total of only 35 seats. On the other hand, the NDA won 202 seats.
