Rohini Acharya Announces Exit From Politics, Says She Is “Disowning” Family After Bihar Poll Debacle

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s second daughter, Rohini Acharya, on Saturday shocked party workers and political observers by announcing on X that she is “quitting politics and disowning her family.”

In her post, Acharya indirectly targeted RJD Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav and his associate Rameez, both considered close confidants of Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav. “This is what Sanjay Yadav and Rameez had asked me to do… I am taking the blame,” she wrote, hinting at an internal rift.

The post came just a day after the RJD’s worst electoral performance in a decade, with the party winning only 25 seats in the Bihar assembly polls. The NDA swept the election with 202 seats, while the Grand Alliance could manage only 35. Tejashwi himself faced stiff competition from Raghopur before eventually pulling off a 14,000-vote win.

Long-Simmering Tensions Surface

Party insiders claimed they were unaware of what triggered Rohini’s announcement but pointed to her earlier clashes with Sanjay Yadav. During the election campaign months ago, the two reportedly had a confrontation over his prominence in Tejashwi’s entourage.

On Friday, as counting progressed, Acharya had posted multiple messages urging RJD workers to stay vigilant and prevent “any tampering” at counting centres—an indication of her active involvement.

A Grand Alliance leader, requesting anonymity, said:
“Rohini has long-standing issues with Sanjay Yadav’s growing influence. The fresh post appears to reflect frustration over internal equations and the poll debacle.”

Acharya, who donated a kidney to her father in December 2022, has previously voiced concerns about being sidelined in the party after losing the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Saran. She had asserted on X that she would “never compromise on self-respect,” though both she and Sanjay later denied any rift.

RJD’s Family Feud Widens

The turmoil comes months after Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav was expelled from the RJD for posting controversial photos online. He went on to form the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD) and lost from Mahua in the 2025 polls. His open criticism of the RJD had already exposed cracks within the family.

Political Reactions

BJP spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said it was “unfortunate” that Rohini, who donated her kidney to her father, now felt compelled to sever ties with her family, calling it an example of “intense infighting” within the RJD’s first family.

JD(U) MLC Neeraj Kumar also took a swipe, saying Rohini’s post showed “how a daughter is being denied respect in her own home and by her brother.”

The RJD has not issued an official response to Acharya’s statement.