Tej Pratap Yadav's name missing from RJD invite, wife debuts on political posters

A day after a message to quit politics was posted from Tej Pratap Yadav's allegedly hacked account, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's elder son's name is missing from the official invitation card of the party's foundation day on Thursday, fanning talks that all's not well within the family and party.

But as Tej Pratap slips on the political turf by highlighting dispute in the family and party, his wife Aishwarya Rai took the lead with her pictures prominently displayed on foundation day posters outside their residence.

This is the first time that Aishwarya has made it to posters of any political event of the party. It has triggered speculations of her entry into politics, promoted by her husband, though party leaders did not want to comment on the matter. "Let us see if she makes it to the RJD's foundation day on Thursday. That will give a better picture of the situation," said a senior RJD leader.

Aishwarya, who also hails from a prominent political family of the state and is the daughter of former Bihar minister Chandrika Rai and grandchild of ex-CM Daroga Rai, tied the knot with Tej Pratap, at a grand ceremony in Patna in May this year.

This will be RJD's first foundation day in recent times, sans its president Lalu, who is currently undergoing treatment in Mumbai. As a result, omission of Tej Pratap's name has raised several eyebrows as the invitation card is printed not just in the name of his mother Rabri Devi but also younger brother Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, the leader of the Opposition in Bihar assembly.

Tej Pratap dismissed it as a non-issue saying, "Everyone's name cannot be everywhere. My name and photos are there in the posters. There is no difference within the family or party. Such talks are being spread by the BJP and RSS people. I will go to the event and sound the bugle against them." Lalu's eldest daughter and MP Misa Bharti's name too was missing from the invite.

The BJP and JD (U) leaders "sympathised" with Tej Pratap and said "his parents had neglected him and put him second in line even though he was the elder son."