New Delhi: In a no-holds-barred interview with ABP News on Saturday, Tej Pratap Yadav, founder of Janshakti Janata Dal and former Bihar minister, opened up about deep-seated family rifts, political strategies, and his unyielding stance against perceived betrayals.
The elder son of RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav didn’t mince words while addressing the insult to his sister Rohini Acharya, hinting at public retribution that could leave his brother Tejashwi Yadav stunned.
Tej Pratap, reflecting on the formation of his party in 2020, attributed it to longstanding discrimination within the family. “Discrimination has been there from the start, and I knew this was coming,” he said, underscoring his foresight amid familial tensions. With Bihar assembly elections on the horizon, he affirmed his primary focus on contesting from Mahua, where he claims strong public support due to his groundwork. However, he left the door open for fighting from Hasanpur as well, stating, “Time will tell, but Mahua is very close to me.”
After dismissing RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan’s campaigns against him, Tej Pratap emphasised his accessibility to the public. “My janata darbar is open day and night; anyone can come without restrictions,” he asserted, positioning himself as a people-centric leader unlike others who distance themselves from voters.
On the sensitive issue of ‘Jaichands’ – a term for traitors – in his circle, he remarked, “Everyone knows who the Jaichand is; no need to name them. They keep conspiring.” He vowed that the public would avenge Rohini’s humiliation, adding, “The people won’t spare anyone.” Regarding actor-turned-politician Pawan Singh potentially joining his party, Tej Pratap expressed resentment over ignored calls but offered forgiveness if an apology comes. “We highlighted him, but if he apologises, we’ll consider it,” he said.
Tej Pratap welcomed alliances, even jokingly offering a ticket to PM Modi if he aligns with their ideology, though he criticised Modi’s RSS roots. He flagged migration as Bihar’s biggest woe, lamenting violence against Biharis elsewhere. Firmly ruling out a return to RJD, he revealed, “I’ve sworn not to go back. Even my parents blessed my party to move forward.”
In a surprising critique of allies, he opined that Rahul Gandhi lacks maturity for prime ministership. “PMs are usually older; he needs time. He follows Gandhi but promotes foreign clothes instead of khadi. Priyanka is more mature,” he quipped.
As Bihar’s political landscape heats up, Tej Pratap’s revelations highlight fractured family ties and his determination to carve an independent path, potentially reshaping alliances ahead of polls.