RJD Scion Rohini Acharya Announces Political Exit Amid Family Rift
In a dramatic development that has sent shockwaves through Bihar's political circles, Rohini Acharya, daughter of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad Yadav, declared her exit from politics and severed family ties on Saturday. The announcement came just one day after the RJD's disappointing performance in the Bihar assembly polls, where the party's seat count plummeted from 75 to a mere 24.
The Cryptic Social Media Post That Started It All
Acharya, a qualified doctor who had chosen to settle as a homemaker with her husband in Singapore, made the shocking revelation through a cryptic post on her X (formerly Twitter) account. "I am quitting politics and I am disowning my family... This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do... and I am taking all the blame," she wrote in her emotional message.
The post immediately sparked speculation about the identities of the two individuals mentioned and their roles in her decision. Sanjay Yadav is the Rajya Sabha MP from RJD and one of the most trusted aides of Tejashwi Yadav, the son and heir apparent of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad. Rameez, meanwhile, is said to be Tejashwi's old friend who hails from a political family in neighboring Uttar Pradesh.
Family Turmoil and Political Setbacks
The Acharya family has been grappling with internal conflicts for several months. Earlier this year, Rohini's elder brother, Tej Pratap Yadav, was expelled from both the party and his family following controversy over his personal life. The expulsion came after Tej Pratap made a Facebook post claiming to be in a relationship, which sparked a public fallout with his family and revived discussions around his past marital issues, including his ongoing divorce case with Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Bihar CM Daroga Rai.
Despite speculation that Rohini was "unhappy" over her brother's expulsion, she was actively seen campaigning for Tejashwi during the assembly elections. However, the party's dismal performance appears to have been the final trigger for her dramatic announcement.
Rohini Acharya, who gained public attention for donating a kidney to her father a few years ago, had unsuccessfully contested last year's Lok Sabha polls from Saran constituency. Her political career, though brief, had shown promise until this sudden withdrawal.
Broader Implications for RJD and Bihar Politics
The RJD's electoral performance marks a significant setback for the party, with their seat tally dropping dramatically from 75 to 24 in the 243-member Bihar assembly. Meanwhile, Tej Pratap Yadav, who went on to launch his own party, the Janshakti Janta Dal (JJD), faced a major personal setback in the Mahua Assembly constituency, finishing a distant third.
Sanjay Kumar Singh of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) secured a thumping victory in Mahua with 87,641 votes and a margin of 44,997 votes, while RJD candidate Mukesh Kumar Raushan stood second. The poor showing by both the main RJD and Tej Pratap's breakaway faction indicates deeper structural issues within the party organization.
With Rohini Acharya's decision to "disown" her family, the cracks within Lalu Yadav's political dynasty have widened significantly, raising questions about the party's future leadership and the stability of one of Bihar's most prominent political families.
