Amid rift speculations, Lalu Prasad Yadav's family celebrates RJD chief's 71st birthday

ANI photo

PATNA: Amid speculations over a rift between RJD leaders Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, the Yadav family on Monday celebrated jailed party supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's 71st birthday in Patna. Party workers too participated in the event.

Rabri Devi, Tejashwi & Tej Pratap Yadav celebrate Lalu Prasad Yadav's 71st birthday in #Patna with RJD workers. pic.twitter.com/Qg3AziiYqc — ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2018

The convicted RJD chief is currently serving a jail term at the Birsa Munda Central Jail. He has been lodged in jail since December 23, 2017 in connection with the fodder scam cases.

He has been convicted in four fodder scam cases since 2013, the latest being the Dumka treasury case in which a special CBI court sentenced him to 14 years in jail.

Last week, Tej Pratap had tweeted hinting at his possible retirement from politics which led to speculations regarding a family infighting. In a tweet, he had referred to epic tale of 'Mahabharata' and mentioned that he wishes to quit and hand over the throne to Arjun (Tejashwi Yadav) and go on a leave.

"मेरा सोंचना है कि मैं अर्जुन को हस्तिनापुर की गद्दी पर बैठाऊं और खुद द्वारका चला जाऊँ। अब कुछेक "चुग्लों" को कष्ट है कि कहीं मैं किंग मेकर न कहलाऊं।। ।। राधे राधे।। (I think, I should establish Arjun on the throne of Hastinapur and go on a leave to Dwarka. But, there are some 'miscreants' who think that if I do so, I will be called a king maker)," he had tweeted.

Speaking on rift row rumours with younger brother, Tej Pratap denied feud within the family and claimed the rumours to be false. He clarified that Tejashwi is very close to him and the duo shares a good bandwidth.

Tej Pratap, the eldest son of RJD supremo Laly Prasad Yadav, said that he has no grudge against his family. He, however, expressed unhappiness with party state president RC Purve. The RJD leader accused Purve of ignoring the youth workers.

"All this news of family infighting etc is false, there is no such thing, I have nothing against Tejashwi and Lalu ji but yes some other senior leaders in the party are sidelining youth workers. The state President RC Purve is ignoring workers," Tej Pratap Yadav had said.

On Saturday, Tej Pratap, 29, accused some members of his party of trying to create a feud between the two brothers.

Blaming the party members for not receiving his phone calls, Tej Pratap had said that he was determined to eliminate those anti-social elements from the party.

The 29-year-old RJD leader had also urged senior leaders to identify those people and expel them from the party.

Breaking silence, Lalu Prasad's younger son, Tejashwi spoke in the lines of his elder brother. Calling Tej Pratap his guide, the young RJD leader said it is evident that Tej Pratap spoke on the strength of the party.

Tej Pratap talked about how to unify and strengthen our party, ahead of 2019 (general election) and 2020 (Bihar assembly election), Tejashwi added.

"It is very evident Tej Pratap ji spoke on strength of the party. He spoke about how to unify and strengthen our party, ahead of 2019 (general election) and 2020 (Bihar assembly election). Unhone spasht kaha hai Tejashwi kaleje ka tukda hai. He is my brother and guide (He clearly said that I am very dear to him)," Tejashwi said.

The party came under heat following the recent conviction of party president Lalu Yadav in several fodder scam-related cases. Tejashwi Yadav, who played a pivotal role after the formation of the grand alliance including RJD, Congress and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JDU ahead of  Bihar Assembly elections, is more active in politics than his elder brother Tej Pratap. 

Tej Pratap, who was a Cabinet Minister for Health in the Bihar coalition government, is not seen as the heir apparent to Lalu Yadav's legacy in Bihar where his party RJD was in power for nearly 15 years. Since Lalu has been jailed, Tejashwi is said to be managing the party affairs single-handedly.