It would be naive to assume that Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, had given up on his political ambitions after being virtually disowned by his family and the party, or so the scorned leader's recent activities suggest.
Days after being unceremoniously expelled from the RJD and the family by his father, who said as much in a social media post, Tej Pratap has intensified his efforts to amplify his ground connect through back-to-back meetings, speaking to his supporters and regaining the momentum he seemed to have lost much before be was admonished by his family as he was forced to play second fiddle to his younger brother and Lalu's heir apparent Tejashwi Yadav.
On Wednesday, even as news reports suggested that Tej Pratap may have taken a different track and was now pursuing his dreams to become a commercial pilot, he sprang a surprise by posting about a video call he had with Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
"Akhilesh ji has always been very close to my heart. When he called me suddenly to ask about my well-being, it felt like I’m not alone in this fight," Tej Pratap captioned a video post he shared on his Instagram handle.
The post sparked buzz of Tej Pratap plotting a potential comeback ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled to be held in Bihar later this year, possibly with Akhilesh Yadav's help.
The families of Akhilesh and Tej Pratap have long shared good relations with Lalu's youngest daughter Rajlakshmi married to Akhilesh Yadav's nephew, also named Tej Pratap. Tejashwi and Akhilesh also share cordial relations as did their fathers -- Lalu and late Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Besides speaking to Akhilesh, Tej Pratap also held a series of meetings in Patna with party workers on Wednesday. "The series of meetings is continuing. When people's love is with us, we gain the strength to face every situation with courage," Tej Pratap said, sharing a photo of the meeting.
While Tej Pratap has not hinted whether he is eyeing an entry into some other party or planning to float his own outfit, he has tried to send out a message through his recent activities that he is unwilling to give up just yet.
Tej Pratap waded into controversy after his photos with rumoured partner Anushka Yadav went viral on social media, triggering tensions within the family and the eventual disassociation. For now, it is clear that Tej Pratap is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he continues to play a role in Bihar's politics as the state heads into crucial Assembly elections, whether on his own or with help from a friendly party.
"Those who think my silence is my weakness are wrong. I know about your conspiracies. You started this, and I will finish it. The truth is about to come out. My role will be decided by the people and the Supreme Court, not by any party or family," Tej Pratap write in a social media post on June 19.
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