Paromita Das
New Delhi, 24th September: With Bihar’s state assembly elections approaching, political theatre is once again dominating the headlines. But instead of debates on employment, governance, or law and order, the center stage is occupied by the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s “first family” and its latest melodrama.
This time, the spark came from Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. Reports suggest she is increasingly unhappy with the growing influence of Sanjay Yadav, political adviser to her brother and former Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav. What followed was a sequence of unfollows, cryptic posts, old videos, and pointed remarks that drew more attention than any policy statement.
Social Media as the Battlefield
In today’s politics, silence rarely speaks louder than a tweet. Rohini Acharya unfollowed her father, brother, and other RJD leaders on X, making her discontent all too visible. She even made her account private briefly—a digital gesture that screamed of dissent.
मैंने एक बेटी व् बहन के तौर पर अपना कर्तव्य एवं धर्म निभाया है और आगे भी निभाती रहूँगी , मुझे किसी पद की लालसा नहीं है, न मेरी कोई राजनीतिक महत्वाकांक्षा है ,मेरे लिए मेरा आत्म – सम्मान सर्वोपरि है 🙏
— Rohini Acharya (@RohiniAcharya2) September 19, 2025
Earlier, she had reposted a post critical of Sanjay Yadav sitting in the “front seat” of Tejashwi’s Voter Adhikar Yatra. For loyal RJD supporters, that seat symbolized power and legacy—reserved for either Lalu or Tejashwi. By highlighting the breach, Rohini cast a subtle but sharp spotlight on the shifting power dynamics inside the party.
The RJD’s attempt at damage control came soon after. Dalit leaders Shiv Chandra Ram and Rekha Paswan were made to occupy the symbolic front seats in subsequent yatras. Rohini endorsed this move enthusiastically, praising it as part of Lalu’s “socio-economic justice campaign.” But to many observers, this looked less like conviction and more like a calculated effort to douse flames within the family.
The Personal Turn in Public Politics
Just when the controversy seemed to settle, Rohini posted an emotional video from 2022, when she donated her kidney to her father. Accompanied by a caption about fearlessness, sacrifice, and self-respect, it reminded everyone of her personal devotion to her family.
While the gesture was undoubtedly noble, its timing raised eyebrows. Was it a heartfelt message, or another chapter in the unfolding family saga? The political undercurrents were hard to miss.
Adding fuel to the fire, Rohini declared on social media that she has no political ambition. “My self-respect is supreme,” she wrote, suggesting that her frustration stemmed less from the lack of opportunities and more from a perceived dilution of her dignity within the family hierarchy. Ironically, this denial itself was read as confirmation of her aspirations.
An Old Script with New Actors
This is not the first time the RJD family has aired its internal disputes. Tej Pratap Yadav, Lalu’s elder son, once expelled from the party, now openly backs his sister against Sanjay Yadav’s influence. He even alleged that Sanjay is plotting to “usurp” Tejashwi’s chair.
Such claims and counterclaims reduce politics to personality clashes. The timing, just months before Bihar’s elections, raises the possibility that the drama is not entirely spontaneous but rather a well-rehearsed distraction. After all, the RJD has a history of using symbolism, emotion, and family theatrics to consolidate its base when real issues get too uncomfortable.
The Real Issues Lost in the Noise
While the spotlight shines on the Lalu household, the real Bihar story risks being forgotten. Unemployment, caste tensions, crumbling infrastructure, and rural poverty remain pressing concerns. But voters are being fed a steady diet of family intrigue instead.
This deflection suits political actors. For RJD, the rift shifts discourse away from uncomfortable governance questions. For rivals like the BJP, the chaos is ammunition to portray the opposition as disorganized and dynastic. The net loser in this spectacle? The people of Bihar, who deserve a debate about their future rather than endless updates about who unfollowed whom on X.
The Perils of Dynastic Politics
The unfolding family drama underlines the dangers of dynastic politics in Bharat. When leadership and legacy are treated as family property, personal rivalries inevitably spill into public discourse. Instead of policy debates, elections risk turning into soap operas.
Rohini Acharya’s moves—whether genuine outbursts or calculated plays—demonstrate how dynastic structures can both empower and suffocate. The reliance on personal loyalty, symbolic gestures, and internal rivalries undermines the democratic process. The public sphere should be shaped by ideas and vision, not by family feuds over symbolic “front seats.”
Beyond the Family Circus
As Bihar inches closer to elections, the “rift in the RJD family” may continue to dominate headlines. But beneath the noise, one truth stands tall: voters deserve more. Bihar’s youth want jobs, farmers want fair prices, and citizens want security and progress.
Whether the rift is real or staged, it is ultimately a distraction. The people of Bihar must look beyond the Lalu family’s theatrics and demand answers on governance, development, and opportunity. Until then, the spectacle may entertain, but it will not empower.
