Law Kumar Mishra
A deep crack has appeared in what was once Bihar’s most powerful political dynasty. The family that dominated the state’s power structure for three full decades has now suffered a vertical split.
Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi ruled Bihar as Chief Ministers for years, and later went on to lead the opposition in both houses of the Bihar legislature — mother and son standing as political pillars. The younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, has twice served as Deputy Chief Minister, while the elder, Tej Pratap, has held key portfolios such as Health and Forest Minister.
The eldest offspring of the Emergency era, Misa Bharti, rose to become first a Rajya Sabha member and later a Lok Sabha MP.
Hailing from Phulwaria village in Gopalganj district, Lalu Prasad Yadav surpassed even the legendary Ramgarh ruler Kamakhya Narayan Singh in terms of political control and influence. Yet today, the self-styled “new king” of Phulwaria faces rebellion not from his party — but from within his own bloodline.
The first open revolt erupted when Tej Pratap’s wife, the elder daughter-in-law, was forced out of the 10 Circular Road residence in the middle of the night. A case was filed at the Secretariat Police Station, and after moving through the lower courts, it now awaits hearing in the Patna High Court.
Soon after, Lalu expelled his elder son Tej Pratap from both the house and the party, accusing him of maintaining relations with another woman in Patna. Tej Pratap retaliated, alleging conspiracy by Tejashwi’s close aide Sanjay Yadav — whom he mockingly referred to as “Jaichand”.
Tej Pratap then floated his own political outfit — the Loktantrik Janata Party — and fielded candidates against RJD nominees, including Tejashwi himself. The result was political disaster: Tej Pratap lost, his candidates failed, and the RJD suffered a massive setback. Its strength in the Assembly plunged from 75 to 25 seats, barely retaining opposition status.
On the very night of the election results, another rupture shook the family. Daughter Rohini Acharya walked out of the house. The same Rohini who had donated her kidney to Lalu two years earlier left with her three children and tearfully told journalists at the airport that she had been abused, footwear raised against her, and humiliated.
She openly accused Tejashwi’s close associates — who had moved into the 10 Circular Road bungalow from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh — of manipulating ticket distribution and maligning her character. She claimed they spread the vile allegation that she had taken one crore rupees and given Lalu a “dirty kidney”.
The very next day, three more daughters left the residence with their families and departed for Delhi.
They expressed sorrow, saying Lalu and Rabri had tears in their eyes — yet were powerless to intervene. The family’s control, they said, now lay entirely in Tejashwi’s hands.
Veteran socialist leader and old Lalu ally Shivananad Tiwari remarked in disbelief that Lalu had become a “Dhritarashtra” — a blind patriarch watching his own house collapse.
As Lalu struggled to salvage his party, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar delivered another blow: he ordered the Yadav family to vacate the 10 Circular Road bungalow adjacent to the CM residence. The house had been allotted to Rabri Devi first as former Chief Minister and later as Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council. The family had lived there for 25 years.
They have now been shifted to 39 Harding Road — two kilometres away from the CM House.
The saying “the home broke, the home was lost” feels painfully apt. Though Lalu and Rabri also own palatial private residences in Kautilya Nagar and Gola Road, the symbolic fall from 10 Circular Road marks the end of an era. But, Lalu should have no regrets on accommodation.
When he became chief minister in 1999, he stayed in one room servant quarters of Bihar Veterinary College. He moved to 1, Anney Marg when his predecessor Dr Jagannath Mishra vacated. He had to shift to 10, Circular road when ,Nitish Kumar succeeded him and now he has to shift to 39, Hardinge Road, where now deputy CM, Samrat Chaudhury stayed as panchayati raj minister.
In the past since Independence, RI Krishna Sinha ,the first chief minister stayed in 1,King George Avenue. Abdul Ghafoor also occupied it. Now, it is State Guest House. Bindeshwari Dubey made 1, Anney Marg as CM house which was earlier state guest house.
A dynasty that once ruled Bihar now stands divided, bruised, and unraveled.
(The author is a senior journalist based at Patna in Bihar)
