Lalu Yadav's Daughter Rohini Acharya Quits Politics, Breaks Ties With Family

Rohini Acharya, a doctor and former member of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), has announced her departure from politics and severed ties with her family. This decision came after the RJD's poor performance in the Bihar Assembly elections. She shared on X (formerly Twitter) that she made this choice based on advice from Sanjay Yadav, a close aide to Tejashwi Yadav, and her husband Rameez Alam.

"I'm quitting politics, and I'm disowning my family. This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do, and I'm taking all the blame," Acharya posted on X.

Family Feud Intensifies

The rift within Lalu Prasad Yadav's family deepened as Rohini unfollowed several family members on social media months before the elections. Her actions were accompanied by cryptic posts targeting the RJD and her brother Tejashwi Yadav. The feud was further fueled by allegations surrounding her kidney donation to her father in 2022, which she staunchly defended against critics.

Tej Pratap Yadav, Rohini's brother, faced expulsion from the RJD earlier this year due to a scandal involving Anushka Yadav. Despite his own issues with the party, Tej Pratap publicly supported Rohini, even invoking religious imagery to defend her against detractors.

BJP's Reaction

The BJP seized upon these developments to criticize the Yadav family. Neeraj Kumar, a Bihar BJP leader, remarked that the family sacrificed relations with their daughter and elder son for Tejashwi's political ambitions. He expressed sympathy for Rohini, highlighting her kidney donation to Lalu Prasad Yadav as an act of sacrifice now seemingly unappreciated.

"The daughter who donated her kidney to Lalu Yadav and saved his life is now being pushed out of both the family and the party. One can only imagine how helpless and hurt she must be feeling today. After the brother was cast out, now the sister faces the same fate," Bihar BJP leader Neeraj Kumar said.

Kidney Donation Controversy

In December 2022, Rohini underwent a successful kidney transplant in Singapore for her father, who suffered from chronic renal failure. Her brother Tejashwi praised her as "superhuman" for this act of love and courage. However, rumours about whether she actually donated a kidney led to public scrutiny and added tension within the family.

Amidst these controversies, Sanjay Yadav's influence over Tejashwi became a focal point of criticism within the party. His alleged overreach was seen as contributing to internal strife among Lalu Prasad Yadav's children.

Impact on RJD

The ongoing discord has left many questioning the future stability of both Lalu Prasad Yadav's family and the RJD itself. With internal betrayals surfacing publicly through social media exchanges, concerns about leadership dynamics have intensified among supporters.

Lalu Prasad Yadav had previously disowned his elder son Tej Pratap after he claimed an affair with Anushka Yadav while still undergoing divorce proceedings. This incident further strained familial relations when Tej Pratap later claimed his account was hacked but failed to quell rising tensions.

The unfolding drama highlights challenges faced by political families balancing personal relationships with public responsibilities amid evolving political landscapes in India today.