Latest news with #TejPratapYadav
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Next-gen netas add flavour to old jaat-paat politics in battle for Bihar
Family Drama: The romance saga involving Lalu's older son Tej Pratap Yadav (right) has become a political issue. It has also created a rift with brother Tejashwi The forthcoming 2025 Bihar assembly election promises to be interesting in many ways. First, it is shaping up to be an election dominated by youth—or, at least, by leaders who are being projected as 'youthful' by their parties. Leaders like RJD chief Tejashwi Yadav , Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary, election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi's son Santosh Kumar Suman, and the UK-return Pushpam Priya Choudhary are actively holding public rallies and campaigning across Bihar's villages, towns, and bastis. Although most of these leaders are aged between 35 and 55, many young voters in Bihar identify with them. They are seen as relatively fresh, energetic alternatives to older politicians, and not 'phunka hua teer' (a spent, ineffective arrow) or 'chala hua khokha' (an empty, fired shell of a bullet), colloquial jabs that youth often use to describe those past their political prime. Still, this is less a break from the past than a rebranding of it. Except for Kishor, most of these contenders are inheritors of political legacies—sons and daughters stepping into dynastic shoes. There is also speculation that Nishant Kumar, the son of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, may contest because of concerns over his father's health. This generational churn reflects Bihar's demographic reality: according to Census data, 57% of its population is under 25—the highest proportion of young people in the country. That youth bulge is beginning to reshape the political conversation. Second, adding a dramatic subplot to the political theatre is the ongoing family saga involving Tej Pratap Yadav, the elder son of Lalu Prasad Yadav. In a twist worthy of a prime-time soap opera, Tej Pratap recently declared his love for Anushka Yadav on social media, claiming a 12-year-long relationship—despite still being married to Aishwarya Rai, the granddaughter of former CM Daroga Prasad Rai. Though he later claimed his Facebook account was hacked and the photos doctored, Lalu responded by expelling his son from the RJD for six years, citing 'irresponsible behaviour' and actions 'not in accordance with our family values and traditions.' This is no longer just a private family 'affair'—it has entered the political sphere and is likely to influence the election discourse. The controversy has triggered heated inter-generational debates across Bihar, especially between youth and parents in rural and urban areas. Some critics seized the opportunity to question the moral character and family values of RJD, framing the situation as an injustice against Tej Pratap's estranged wife Aishwarya Rai. While many RJD leaders have been on the defensive, some have pointed to similar precedents—such as Ram Vilas Paswan's second marriage — to argue for personal freedom. Among young voters, opinion is split. Some, especially those under-25 voters, seem to sympathise with Tej Pratap and feel Lalu was unnecessarily harsh on his son. Others, particularly in rural Bihar, are uncomfortable with the spectacle and the social media melodrama, especially given the unresolved allegations of domestic abuse from his marriage to Aishwarya. Beyond the controversy, this younger (or young-adjacent) generation of politicians does appear to have injected new energy into the campaign. Their social media battles are flashier, complete with rap tracks and viral videos. More significantly, they are foregrounding issues such as employment, education, youth welfare, public health, and development. Tejashwi Yadav—who focused on unemployment and migration in the 2020 campaign—has promised a 100% domicile policy and job opportunities for locals if voted to power. Prashant Kishor, too, has laid out a vision aimed at reversing Bihar's migration crisis and boosting employment. This shift signals a possible transformation in Bihar's political culture—one that may be inching away from traditional identity politics toward more development-centric narratives. Still, it would be naïve to assume that jaat-paat no longer matters; parties know full well how caste arithmetic can make or break electoral fortunes. No surprise then that, besides nationalism, the NDA is expected to counter the Mahagathbandan's narrative by focusing on its own initiative to include caste data in the upcoming national Census. In a state as politically fragmented as Bihar, it's tough to tell which of these leaders or coalitions will get the upper hand. But what's clear is that the voices and aspirations of young Biharis will dominate the discourse—by sheer demographic force, if nothing else. And in the background, the saga of Tej Pratap Yadav will likely continue to echo through the campaign— reminiscent of the age-old tota-maina stories with love, loyalty and betrayal. Narayan is director, G B Pant Social Science Institute
News18
15-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Tej Pratap Yadav Seen In Video Inside Kashi Vishwanath Temple's 'Red Zone', Probe Ordered
Last Updated: The high-security zone includes the sanctum premises within the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, where mobile phones and unauthorised access are strictly prohibited. Tej Pratap Yadav, RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav's son, has courted a controversy after a video surfaced on social media showing the estranged party leader inside Varanasi's Kashi Vishwanath Temple's restricted 'Red Zone'. The temple administration has ordered an investigation after the video went viral triggering security concerns, reported news agency PTI. The high-security zone includes the sanctum premises within the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, where mobile phones and unauthorised access are strictly prohibited. What's In The Video? The video, which began circulating on social media platforms on Thursday, appears to show the former Bihar minister inside the restricted 'Red Zone' area, officials said. 'May Baba Vishwanath bless you, May the ghat of mother Ganga be pure and holy, I forget the whole world and I remember my Bhola in Banaras, I must say Har Har Mahadev…." he said in a post on X along with the video. बाबा विश्वनाथ का आशीर्वाद हो,माँ गंगा का निर्मल पवित्र घाट हो,पूरी दुनिया को मैं भूल जाऊं औरबनारस में मेरा भोला मुझे याद हो हर हर महादेव बोलना ही होगा। … #Varanasi — Tej Pratap Yadav (@TejYadav14) June 13, 2025 Temple Orders Probe Kashi Vishwanath Temple CEO Vishwa Bhushan Mishra that the temple administration recently became aware of the video through social media platforms and various newspapers. According to the temple administration, information has been shared with the CRPF and the local police, which are responsible for the temple's security. 'Information has been sent to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police administration to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and take action against the responsible personnel of the concerned agency," said Mishra. 'Both agencies have been requested to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed rules and guidelines within the temple premises. Their investigation will also verify the authenticity of the content circulated on social media and identify any personnel found to be at fault. If any violation of rules is found at any level, appropriate legal action against the concerned individuals," he added. The controversy comes amid ongoing personal and political turbulence for Tej Pratap Yadav. The RJD patriarch and his father expelled him from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, declaring that he would have 'nothing to do with the family," on May 25. The move came a day after Tej Pratap Yadav's Facebook post announced that he was 'in a relationship for 12 years" with a woman, despite being married and his divorce petition still pending before a family court. He, however, deleted the post a few hours later, claiming on X that his Facebook page was 'hacked." First Published: June 15, 2025, 08:50 IST
NDTV
14-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Tej Pratap Seen In Video Inside Kashi Temple's Restricted 'Red Zone', Probe Ordered
Varanasi: The Kashi Vishwanath Temple administration has ordered an investigation after a video circulating on social media purportedly showing Lalu Prasad Yadav's son and former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav inside the temple's restricted 'Red Zone'. The said zone refers to the area within the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor that also includes the temple premises. Mobile phones are not allowed in this zone. बाबा विश्वनाथ का आशीर्वाद हो, माँ गंगा का निर्मल पवित्र घाट हो, पूरी दुनिया को मैं भूल जाऊं और बनारस में मेरा भोला मुझे याद हो हर हर महादेव बोलना ही होगा। ... #Varanasi — Tej Pratap Yadav (@TejYadav14) June 13, 2025 The video that shows Yadav inside the temple premises is doing rounds on social media since Thursday, officials said. Kashi Vishwanath Temple CEO Vishwa Bhushan Mishra said that the temple administration recently became aware of the video through social media platforms and various newspapers. #WATCH | Ghaziabad, UP | On Tej Pratap Yadav's viral reel from the Kashi Vishwanath Temple premises, CEO of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, says, "The area inside the temple is a restricted area. One cannot take a mobile phone or a camera there. However, we… — ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2025 According to the temple administration, information has been shared with the CRPF and the local police, which are responsible for the temple's security. "Information has been sent to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police administration to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and take action against the responsible personnel of the concerned agency," said Mishra. "Both agencies have been requested to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed rules and guidelines within the temple premises. Their investigation will also verify the authenticity of the content circulated on social media and identify any personnel found to be at fault. If any violation of rules is found at any level, appropriate legal action against the concerned individuals, " he added. This is a fresh trouble for Tej Pratap. On May 25, RJD president Lalu Prasad expelled him from the party, besides declaring that he "shall have nothing to do with the family." The move came a day after Yadav had announced on social media that he was "in a relationship for 12 years" with a woman, despite being married and his divorce petition still pending before a family court here. He, however, deleted the post a few hours later, claiming on X that his Facebook page was "hacked."
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Probe ordered after video shows KV temple restricted area
Varanasi: A day after Tej Pratap Yadav 's visit to Kashi Vishwanath temple, followed by viral video of that visit on social media, the temple administration ordered a probe on Saturday. Officials, however, did not take the name of any individual. Chief executive officer (CEO) of Kashi Vishwanath temple, Vishwabhushan Mishra, said an investigation had been ordered into the video showing restricted area of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple and added that recently, another matter of a video posted by a political figure in the red zone of Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham had come to the attention of the temple administration through newspapers and social media platforms. In view of safety, sanctity and order for devotees, the temple administration notified Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the local police administration to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and take action against the whoever was responsible for the breach of guidelines. Both agencies were requested to ensure full compliance with established rules and guidelines on the temple premises. The investigation by both security agencies will also confirm authenticity of the content circulated on social media. If any violation of rules was found at any level, appropriate legal action would be recommended against the individuals or personnel concerned. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Tej Pratap Yadav faces probe for entering Kashi Vishwanath temple's restricted ‘Red Zone'
Tej Pratap Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) patriarch Lalu Prasad's son, has courted controversy over a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath temple Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi, where he allegedly stepped inside the restricted 'Red Zone'. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple administration has ordered an investigation over a video circulating on social media purportedly showing the former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav inside the temple's restricted 'Red Zone', according to a news agency PTI report. The red zone, where mobile phones are not permitted, refers to the area within the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor that also includes the temple premises. The video showing Tej Pratap Yadav inside the temple premises is doing rounds on social media since Thursday, officials said. Kashi Vishwanath CEO Vishwa Bhushan Mishra said that the temple administration recently got to know of the video through social media platforms and various newspapers. The temple administration said information has been shared with the CRPF and the local police, which are responsible for the temple's security. "Information has been sent to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police administration to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter and take action against the responsible personnel of the concerned agency," PTI quoted Mishra. "Both agencies have been requested to ensure strict adherence to the prescribed rules and guidelines within the temple premises. Their investigation will also verify the authenticity of the content circulated on social media and identify any personnel found to be at fault. If any violation of rules is found at any level, appropriate legal action against the concerned individuals, " Mishra added. Tej Pratap had hit headlines a few weeks ago as well when RJD president expelled him from the party, besides declaring that he "shall have nothing to do with the family", after a photo of him with a woman went viral. The move came on May 25, a day after Tej Pratap Yadav's Facebook post announced that he was "in a relationship for 12 years" with a woman, despite being married and his divorce petition still pending before a family court here. He, however, deleted the post a few hours later, claiming on X that his Facebook page was "hacked."
