‘It’s All False’: Tejashwi Yadav & Tej Pratap Deny Rumours of Rift

On Saturday, 9 June, Tej Pratap had hinted at his retirement from politics in a tweet, leading to rumours of rift.

Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav. 

(Photo: IANS)

Refuting rumours of a rift with his younger brother Tejashwi Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap on Sunday, 10 June, said that some senior leaders were sidelining the young workers of the party.

“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 told ANI.

The comments come a day after Tej Pratap warned Tejashwi of anti-social elements in the party who he alleged were trying to ruin the party by creating a rift between the siblings. “There are anti-social elements within the party who are trying to create a rift between us, but that is not going to happen,” he told ANI.

We’ll have to remove anti-social elements from the party. People like Rajendra Paswan have toiled for us. But after I asked Lalu Ji, Rabri Ji and Tejashwi to give him a party position, only then was it done. Why was it done so late?

Tej Pratap, Ex-Bihar Cabinet Minister

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, 10 June, Tejashwi Yadav backed his brother and rubbished claims of a rift between them.

All are working to strengthen the party. We shouldn’t make mountain out of a molehill. We must focus on discrepancies on education, how students were given 38 out of 35 marks, how 44 young girls were raped. If you ignore this, Bihar isn’t going to benefit at all.

Tejashwi Yadav

Referring to Tej Pratap’s comments, Tejashwi said that it was very evident that “he spoke about how to unify and strengthen our party ahead of 2019 (general elections) and 2020 (Bihar assembly election).” “He is my brother and guide,” he further asserted.

The ‘Retirement’ Tweet that Started it All

Earlier on 9 June, Tej Pratap, in a tweet, hinted at his retirement from politics which led to rumours about rift between the brothers. On been questioned about that, Tej Pratap said no matter where he goes, he will be involved in politics.

In a Twitter post alluding to the Mahabharata, he wrote, “I will leave the empire for Arjun (Tejashwi) and leave for Dwarka (go on a leave).”