In a significant family moment, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi's 67th birthday celebration on Thursday witnessed an emotional reunion with her estranged son, Tej Pratap Yadav. The former minister arrived at her official residence at 10, Circular Road in Patna to personally wish her and participate in the festivities.
A Birthday Visit Mending Fences
Tej Pratap's visit marks a thaw in relations after a tense seven-month period. He was expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and faced distancing from the Lalu Prasad family following his public revelation about a personal relationship. Since his expulsion, he has pursued an independent political path, even contesting the recent assembly elections on his own.
"Tej Pratap ji had visited the Rabri residence today," confirmed party spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan in a statement to the media. The former minister not only extended birthday greetings to his mother but also joined her in cutting the cake, symbolizing a personal reconciliation.
Heartfelt Social Media Tribute
Complementing his physical presence, Tej Pratap posted a deeply emotional message on social media platforms. He described Rabri Devi as his "deepest inspiration," praising her unconditional love and strength. "You gave without counting, loved without conditions, and stood strong even when no one saw how heavy it was," he wrote.
He further called her the "soul of our family" and "the steady breath behind every laugh, every prayer, every moment that feels like home." Notably, his brother and RJD leader, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, did not post any public birthday wishes for their mother on social media.
Subdued Celebrations Reflect Political Headwinds
While senior RJD leaders, including state president Mangani Lal Mandal, national principal general secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui, and chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, visited to convey their greetings, the overall atmosphere was noticeably muted. The usual large crowds of party workers and supporters were conspicuously thinner compared to previous years.
Political observers point to two primary reasons for the subdued turnout. First is the RJD's poor performance in the recently concluded Bihar assembly elections, where the party secured only 25 seats—a staggering loss of 50 seats from its previous tally. The party's chief ministerial candidate, Tejashwi Yadav, failed to lead the alliance to victory.
The second factor is the looming uncertainty over the family's residence. The state government has issued a notice asking Rabri Devi to vacate the 10, Circular Road bungalow, which has been the family's home for nearly two decades. This iconic address, often compared to Delhi's 10 Janpath, has been central to Lalu Prasad's political narrative.
Party Leaders Offer Alternative Explanation
RJD lawmaker Saurabh Kumar offered a different perspective on the thinner crowds. He attributed the lower turnout to the absence of key family figures from Patna. "Lalu Prasad is a magnet who automatically attracts crowds. Sadly, he is in Delhi after undergoing eye surgery," Kumar explained.
He also mentioned that Tejashwi Yadav is currently on a foreign trip with his family. Dismissing links between the election result and the birthday crowd, Kumar asserted that the RJD still commands a vast worker base. He suggested that the party's electoral setback was due to the tactics employed by their rivals.
The birthday event, therefore, served as a microcosm of the current state of the RJD and the Lalu Prasad family—hinting at personal reconciliations amidst broader political challenges and organizational introspection.
