In a dramatic escalation of the Yadav family feud, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, publicly accused her brother Tejashwi Yadav and his close aides of driving her out of the family. Hours after announcing her exit from politics, Rohini’s statements triggered shockwaves across Bihar’s political landscape already shaken by RJD’s poll debacle.
In a sharp and emotional outburst at Patna Airport on Saturday (Nov 15), Rohini Acharya said she had been “thrown out” of her own family by Tejashwi Yadav, strategist-turned-politician Sanjay Yadav, and Tejashwi’s associate Rameez. “I have no family… go ask Sanjay, Rameez, and Tejashwi. They are the ones who threw me out,” she told reporters, as quoted by ANI, exposing widening cracks within the influential political family.
Her remarks followed RJD’s humiliating performance in the Bihar Assembly elections, where the party managed to win only 25 seats. Many within the organisation have been silently questioning accountability, and Rohini’s comments appeared to give voice to these murmurs.
Linking her fallout to the party’s electoral defeat, Rohini warned that anyone raising questions on leadership or strategy would be treated the same way she was. “If someone tries to act like Chanakya, then questions will be asked to that Chanakya, right?” she remarked, indirectly targeting Sanjay Yadav, who is often seen as Tejashwi’s key strategist.
Rohini further alleged that even mentioning the names of Sanjay or Rameez could invite retaliation. “If Sanjay and Rameez’s names are mentioned, they will throw you out of the house, make people insult you, even hit you with a slipper,” she claimed.
Just hours before her dramatic airport statement, Rohini posted a cryptic yet explosive message announcing that she was quitting politics and “disowning” her family. “This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do… and I’m taking all the blame,” she wrote, intensifying speculation about internal power struggles.
Sources quoted in media reveal that Rohini was one of the earliest critics when Sanjay was seen occupying Tejashwi’s seat during the Tejashwi Yatra, a symbolic flashpoint that escalated tensions.
Who are Sanjay Yadav and Rameez?
Sanjay Yadav, once touted as Tejashwi’s Chanakya-like strategist, is now at the centre of the crisis. Many RJD leaders believe he became increasingly powerful within Tejashwi’s circle, sidelining old loyalists.
Rameez, an old friend of Tejashwi from Uttar Pradesh’s political circles, is also said to have growing influence. Rohini’s attack on both men has sparked questions over their role in decision-making within RJD.
So far, sources say neither Lalu Prasad Yadav nor Rabri Devi have pressured Tejashwi to distance himself from the two aides, despite internal discontent.
Rohini, a medical graduate who lives with her family in Singapore and famously donated a kidney to her father, has long been seen as an emotional anchor for the Yadav family. Her decision to “disown” her family is being viewed as an attempt to push Lalu and Rabri to intervene in the ongoing feud.
Party insiders say she was also upset over the expulsion of her elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, though she still campaigned for Tejashwi during the elections.
The controversy comes at a time when the RJD is grappling with one of its worst election performances in over a decade. The NDA, led by BJP and JD(U), secured a sweeping victory with 202 seats, leaving the Mahagathbandhan at a dismal 34. RJD won 25, Congress 6, and the Left combined managed 3.
The sharp decline has already raised questions about leadership, strategy, and internal organisation. Rohini’s public outburst has only deepened the crisis.
