The rift between Tejashwi Yadav and his elder brother Tej Pratap Yadav was apparent for all to see on Wednesday as the two met at Patna Airport. The eldest son of Lalu Prasad Yadav had been expelled from the party in May this year over “irresponsible behaviour” and failing to conform to probity and family values.
Tej Pratap Yadav had been giving a video interview with YouTuber Samdish Bhatia at Patna airport when Tejashwi Yadav and Mukesh Sahni arrived. The cameras had promptly panned to show the RJD leader interacting and shaking hands with bystanders as Tej Pratap stood silently on the sidelines.
Tejashwi had smiled and raised his hand in acknowledgement upon spotting Tej Pratap.
“Are you taking me shopping, brother?” he can be heard asking without moving towards Tej Pratap.
“He’s giving me a gift,” Bhatia replied.
“You’re very lucky,” Tejashwi added while nodding and smiling.
‘Would choose death over return to RJD’
The Janshakti Janta Dal leader had also shut down all possibility of a reconciliation in late October — insisting that he would prefer death. He had also made light of his younger brother being named as Chief Ministerial candidate by the INDIA bloc ahead of the Bihar polls. Yadav contended that “one needs the people’s blessings to occupy the seat of power”.
“I would choose death over returning to that party. I am not hungry for power. Principles and self-respect are supreme for me. The biggest thing for me is to work for the people. I sincerely do that and people love and trust me,” he had told PTI upon being asked about a return to RJD.
(With inputs from agencies)
