Lalu's newly married daughter-in-law to join politics? Party posters trigger speculations

The poster features photographs of all the members of the RJD Supremo Lalu Yadav's family who are active in politics and among those it also includes the photograph of Tej Pratap's wife Aishwarya Rai.

New Delhi: Fresh speculations have been triggered in Bihar by RJD’s latest poster ahead of the party’s 22^nd foundation day. The poster features photographs of all the members of the RJD Supremo Lalu Yadav's family who are active in politics and among those it also includes photograph of Lalu’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav's newly wedded wife Aishwarya Rai.  This has triggered conjectures regarding her possible entry in Bihar politics. Tej Pratap had tied the knot with Aishwarya in May this year. Aishwarya has strong political connection from both her parents' side and her in-laws ‘side. She is the granddaughter of former Bihar CM Daroga Rai and daughter of former minister Chandrika Rai.  Her entry in politics would therefore not be a surprise move. Another round of speculation has been prompted after omission of RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav's name from a list of dignitaries, who would be attending the party's 22nd foundation day celebrations tomorrow. Tej Pratap’s omission has added gist to the hearsay about a rift within the Yadav family. Reacting to the omission of his name, the RJD chief's elder son rubbished speculations about a rift within the family. ''What is so big about my name not featuring in a list of RJD leaders on the invitation card. My name and my photographs can be found on all the posters and banners put up by the party. I will also be taking part in the celebrations tomorrow. All this talk of family feud is a rumour spread by BJP people", he told reporters. But, BJP and JD(U) seem to be in no mood to buy his defence and reiterated growing trouble within the RJD's first family. BJP state vice president Devesh Kumar told PTI there was trouble brewing within the Lalu family which controls the party. “While we abhor dynasty politics, going by the Hindu tradition, Tej Pratap who is the elder son of the RJD supremo  deserved to be the political heir. But that did not happen”, he said. He had to remain content with a cabinet berth when his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav became the deputy chief minister. At present, Tej Pratap is just a party MLA while Tejashwi is the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, the BJP leader said.   Lalu also played favourites by getting Tejashwi declared as the party's chief ministerial candidate, leaving Tej Pratap with no choice but to play second fiddle, he alleged. So now, while the three children of Lalu, including eldest daughter Misa Bharti are active in politics, it is Tejashwi who is hogging the limelight. It is foolish to blame BJP for the rift in the family, which is all too obvious, the state BJP vice president added. About Lalu's daughter-in-law Aishwarya's photograph on the posters, the BJP leader said it only proves that in the RJD, you have to be related to the Lalu family, in whatever way, in order to take centre stage. Echoing the BJP leader's views, JD(U) MLC and spokesman Neeraj Kumar said Lalu Prasad has emerged as a neo-feudal force in modern politics. Indeed, there is a rift within the family and that is inevitable when the entire family enters politics and starts yearning for clout, he said. As if this was not enough, now the RJD supremo's daughter-in-law of two months also seems to be ready to enter the political arena. Lalu may have worked hard to earn his own political stature, but he has degenerated into a patriarch who cannot look beyond his family, the JD(U) leader alleged. It would be for the first time that Lalu Prasad, who had floated the RJD after breaking away from the Janata Dal in 1997, would remain conspicuous by his absence at tomorrow's function which would be inaugurated by Tejashwi Yadav. (With inputs from PTI)