RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, triggered a political storm on Saturday after a post on her X handle directly blamed two close aides of Tejashwi Yadav—Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav and his associate Rameez—for her decision to “take the blame” for unspecified issues within the party.
In her post, which many interpreted as a pointed attack on Sanjay Yadav, she wrote: “This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do… I am taking the blame.” Both are considered key advisors to Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition and the face of the INDIA bloc in the Bihar assembly polls.
Post Comes After RJD’s Worst Poll Performance in 10 Years
Acharya’s message came just a day after the RJD recorded one of its most disappointing electoral results in a decade. While the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) swept the polls with 202 seats, the RJD managed only 25, with Tejashwi himself trailing for several rounds in Raghopur before eventually winning by around 14,000 votes. The wider Mahagathbandhan could secure just 35 seats.
Within RJD circles, leaders claimed they were unsure what triggered Rohini’s public outburst. However, many linked her post to the longstanding friction between her and Sanjay Yadav—a tension that surfaced months ago during the buildup to the elections.
Long-Running Tensions Within the Family
On Friday, as vote counting progressed, Acharya posted multiple appeals urging RJD workers to stay alert at counting centres and “not allow any tampering.” Her heightened caution, insiders say, reflected deeper internal strains.
One leader from the Grand Alliance, requesting anonymity, said:
“There is more to this than meets the eye. Rohini has issues with Sanjay Yadav linked to his influence as Tejashwi’s key aide. Internal family squabbles may have led to her post.”
Acharya, who donated a kidney to her father in December 2022, had earlier clashed with Sanjay during Tejashwi’s campaign yatra when she objected to him occupying the front seat of the campaign vehicle. This incident, coupled with the party’s poor performance, is believed to have aggravated tensions.
Past Speculations and Denials
There has been ongoing speculation that Acharya—who contested unsuccessfully from Saran in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls—was unhappy with Tejashwi and his aides for sidelining her within the party. She had previously posted messages asserting she would “never compromise on self-respect” and did not desire “power.”
Both she and Sanjay later dismissed reports of a rift, but Saturday’s post has reopened those questions.
Meanwhile, there has been no official response from Sanjay Yadav or the RJD regarding Acharya’s remarks.
Widening Rift in RJD’s First Family
The turmoil adds to a series of family disputes within the RJD. Earlier in May, Tejashwi’s elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav was expelled from the party after posting controversial photos with a woman on X, which he later deleted.
Tej Pratap subsequently floated his own party, the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), but lost the election from the Mahua assembly seat. He has since continued criticising RJD’s internal functioning.
Political Reactions
BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said it was unfortunate that Acharya—who had made a personal sacrifice by donating a kidney to her father—was now being “compelled to sever ties with her family.” He called the episode a sign of escalating infighting and sibling rivalry within the RJD’s first family.
JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar echoed similar concerns, saying Acharya’s emotional post showed “how a daughter is not getting respect in her own family and from her brother,” taking a swipe at both Lalu Prasad and Tejashwi Yadav.