Fresh rift in Bihar's first family? Rohini Acharya unfollows father Lalu Yadav, brother Tejashwi on X

Rohini Acharya with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and wife Rabri Devi in Patna. (File: PTI)

Amid signs of another rift in the first family of Bihar, Rohini Acharya has unfollowed her father and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav and her brother Tejashwi Yadav on social media platform X.

While no official comment has been regarding the development, the decision apparently comes amid concerns over the growing clout of Tejashwi's close aide and political advisor Sanjay Yadav within the party.

The development comes barely days after Rohini, the second of Lalu’s seven daughters, reposted a criticism of Sanjay Yadav’s visibility at her brother and state Leader of Opposition Tejashwi’s five-day “Bihar Adhikar Yatra”, which concluded Saturday. Sajnay Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP, was seen sitting in the front seat of the Yatra bus.

The social media post that Rohini reposted claimed that front seat, which has traditionally been occupied by either Lalu or Tejashwi, should remain vacant in their absence and that no other leader would be acceptable in their place.

"The front seat is always designated for top leadership,” read the post by a person named Alok Kumar. “No one should sit on it even when the leader is absent. It is a different matter when someone has the notion of being bigger than the top leader. We, along with the people of Bihar, are used to seeing Lalu Prasad or Tejashwi Prasad Yadav taking the front seat. We cannot tolerate anyone else sitting in the front seat. However, we cannot comment on sycophants who see in a person a unique strategist, advisor, and savior," the post read.

The Indian Express reports that Rohini's decision to report the critique did not sit well within the family and caused significant unrest. "She faced criticism from the family for indirectly targeting Sanjay Yadav. She was under pressure to do damage control," the report said citing a party insider.

Aware of the damage Rohini's post had caused, Dalit leaders Shiv Chandra Ram and Rekha Paswan to take the front seat during the yatra. The development provided Rohini some cover who linked it to Lalu's campaign for socio-economic justice to bring forward the deprived and people on the last rung of the social ladder.

"It is heartening to see people from these sections sitting in the front seat in these pictures," she said in a post on X.

Like her elder sister Misa Bharti, Rohini holds a medical degree and made headlines after she donated her kidney to her ailing father in Singapore last year. The surgery took place at a hospital there.

Rohini also contested the Lok Sabha elections last year from Saran and lost narrowly to incumbent BJP MP and former Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

Rohini has been facing intense criticism and online trolling over her alleged political ambitions. In signs of display of her anguish, she posted a 2022 video that showed her being taken inside the Singapore hospital. She soon unfollowed several top leaders of the party.

"The rumours being spread about me are baseless and part of a malicious campaign aimed at damaging my reputation, fuelled by trolls, unruly individuals, paid media, and those with ulterior motives to hijack the party. I have never had, do not have, and will not have any political ambitions. I neither aspire to become a legislative Assembly candidate myself nor do I wish to make anyone else a candidate. I have no desire to become a member of the Rajya Sabha, nor do I have any rivalry with any family member. I do not covet any position in the party or any future government. For me, my self-respect, respect and dedication towards my parents, and my family’s reputation are paramount,” she wrote. clarifying her stand.

Meanwhile, Lalu's eldest son and Tejashwi's older brother Tej Pratap Yadav spoke up in his sister's support, claiming that she had raised some very valid questions.

"My sister has raised very valid questions. Her concerns (regarding the growing influence of Sanjay Yadav)," he said, hinting that he was also concerned over Sanjay Yadav's growing clout within the party.

A Haryana native, Sanjay Yadav was appointed Rajya Sabha MP in 2024, twelve years after he was introduced to Tejashwi by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. Sanjay is also seen as a key aide who helped prepare for his political debut.

Over the last 2-3 years, Sanjay is seen to have grown into being the closest aide of Tejashwi Yadav prevailing over senior party leaders. In fact, all meetings and interactions with the media are also now routed through Sanjay Yadav.