There is no difference between Tej Pratap and Tejashwi: Rabri Devi
Amid reports of growing differences between Lalu Prasad’s two sons Tej Pratap and Tejashwi, senior RJD leader Rabri Devi reached Patna on Sunday. She went straight to the official residence of eldest son Tej Pratap. However, Tej Pratap was not present at his residence.
Speaking to reporters at the Patna airport, Rabri Devi rubbished reports of differences and said her sons were united in the fight against the BJP-JDU alliance. Instead, the fight is between the ruling BJP and JD(U), he said.
“There is no fight between Tej Pratap and Tejashwi, but the fight is going on between BJP and JD(U),” he told reporters.
Notably, there are ongoing differences between Tej Pratap and Tejashwi as both are vocal against each other. Tej Pratap last month formed a new student organization – Chhatra Janshakti Parishad.
Tej Pratap, recently speaking at a workshop organized by Chhatra Janshakti Parishad in Patna alleged that “Lalu has been confined to Delhi by around 4-5 people who dream of becoming the national president of RJD”. Though he did not name any leader, the remarks were directed at Tejashwi who is the de facto head of the RJD.
Tejashwi is the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. He had also served as Deputy CM in the Mahagathbandhan government (an alliance of RJD, JDU and Congress — now dissolved). Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap served as the health minister.
Earlier in August, Tejashwi had asked Tej Pratap to maintain ‘discipline’, later questioning the sacking of Akash Yadav as the state president of the RJD student wing.
Meanwhile, Misa Bharti (Lalu-Rabri’s eldest daughter) and Tej Pratap were dropped from the RJD’s star campaigners’ list for the by-elections to the two assembly seats. Not only this, Rabri Devi’s name was also left in the list of star campaigners.
The development is seen as a stepping stone to the older siblings in the party, which is founded and led by the father, who has made little secret of his choice for younger son Tejashwi.
Read more: ‘He got LK Advani arrested’: Tejashwi refutes brother Tej Pratap’s charge of ‘taking Lalu hostage’
.