A day after the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) crushing defeat in the Bihar Assembly elections, party patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter, Rohini Acharya, has announced that she is quitting politics and severing ties with her family. In an emotional post, Rohini alleged that she was “abused, humiliated, and even assaulted” by her brother, Tejashwi Yadav, and his close aide, RJD MP?Sanjay?Yadav, after questioning the leadership over the party’s poor performance.
Political family in turmoil
Her remarks have once again spotlighted the widening rift within Lalu Prasad Yadav’s family. Earlier this year, her elder brother Tej?Pratap?Yadav was expelled from both the party and the family following a series of controversies, including his social media outbursts and personal life disputes. Tej?Pratap later launched his own outfit, the Janshakti?Janta?Dal (JJD), but managed only a distant third place from Mahua constituency in the recent elections.
Rohini’s allegations have deepened the sense of crisis within RJD’s first family, which now finds itself battling public infighting after a poor electoral showing.
BJP leaders react: “A family falling apart”
Reacting to Rohini’s decision, Bihar?BJP President?Dilip?Jaiswal called it an “internal family matter” but appealed to the Yadav family to restore unity. “Lalu Yadav and Rabri?Devi need to save the family. This breakup over one or two individuals is unfortunate. Rohini donated her kidney to save her father- this should remind everyone of family values,” he said.
BJP?MP?Rajiv?Pratap?Rudy shared a similar view, remarking that Rohini’s distress reflected “deeper disappointment” within the RJD. “It seems that the RJD is disintegrating, and the signs are not encouraging,” he added.
RJD’s electoral collapse
The controversy comes after a major electoral setback for the RJD. The party managed to win only?25?seats out of over?140?contested, as the NDA swept the Bihar Assembly polls with a massive majority. The BJP and JD(U) secured?89?and?85?seats respectively, while the NDA coalition crossed the 200?seat mark in the 243?member House.
RJD’s alliance partners also suffered heavy losses, with the Congress securing just?six?seats and the Left parties barely making an impact. The newly formed Jan?Suraaj, led by Prashant?Kishor, failed to open its account.
Personal fallout as political symbol
Rohini?Acharya’s exit has turned into both a personal tragedy and a political flashpoint. Once admired for her loyalty to her father- she famously donated a kidney to Lalu?Prasad?Yadav in 2022- Rohini’s accusation of being “hit, humiliated, and disowned” by her brother underscores the deepening tensions in Bihar’s most prominent political dynasty.
Her parting words on social media- “No home should ever have a daughter like?Rohini”- summed up the pain of a woman who says she was forced to choose between family loyalty and personal dignity.
