Some more troubles in the first political family of Bihar seemed to be in store with the emergence of a new face. In the lalu Prasad-Rabri Devi family a new face which was spotted on the banners and posters of the 22nd foundation day of the RJD was that of Aishwarya Rai. The hoardings coming up at public places and believed to be sponsored by the supporters of couple’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav have the face of former Health Minister’s wife.
Tongues wagged amid the power tussle in the family with Tej feeling slighted and younger brother Tejashwi Prasad Yadav going more powerful in the family as well as in the party. The foundation day would be observed on Thursday in the absence of party supremo lalu Prasad and Tejashwi is likely to play the role of heir apparent and next in command.
Once again Tej was ignored as his name missed from the party’s invitation card. The event has come only two days after Tej posted a highly critical post on social media accusing his mother of not listening to his grievances and alleged that some party workers were spreading canard against him in his assembly constituency Mahua that Tej was mad and hen-pecked. After a few hours when the family went into a turmoil and family meeting was held Tej claimed his Facebook account was hacked by “Nitish Kumar, BJP and RSS, all scared of my growing popularity.”
But the former Minister did not file a police complaint regarding hacking of his social media account, not till date, which gave credence to the reports that it had been posted by himself and retreated after being pursued by the family members.
Reports filtered through the family sources alleged that Aishwarya, married to Tej only two months ago, was also playing a role in instigating her husband after watching that he was side lined in the party affairs and had little say in the family matters. The photo of Aishwarya on the posters and banners could be another source of tension in the family. But those knowing Tej said that this could be a pressure tactics by him to bring his wife in political limelight.
“There is no clash in the family,” said Tej and brushed aside the fact that his name was missing from the invitation card saying his photo was there on the posters and banners. “It is ours party. It hardly makes a differences whether my name is there or not. RSS and BJP are doing conspiracy against me. I and Tejashwi (Krishna and Arjun) will frustrate their designs,” said Mahua MlA who declared he would blow the conch shell at the foundation day in support of Tejashwi.
But the event gave yet another opportunity to the opposition to sharpen attack. JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar said, “Now the weakest person in the RJD is lalu Prasad and he is being ignored by his family members. RJD is a family party and only the members of that family can get a post there.”
BJP leader and Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar added, “RJD is on the verge of split and the family on disintegration.”