A grand birthday celebration was organised in Ghaziabad, near Delhi, to mark the first birthday of Iraj, son of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. The event, hosted at the residence of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Ragini Yadav, turned into a high-profile family gathering attended by members of the Lalu family along with several politicians and opposition leaders, sparking fresh political chatter in Bihar and Delhi. The occasion saw the presence of RJD patriarch Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and most members of the family, who reportedly travelled from Patna to Delhi by flight a day before the event to ensure participation in the celebration. The residence was elaborately decorated, with detailed arrangements made for guests and festivities, highlighting the importance the family placed on the occasion.
One of the most talked-about moments of the celebration was the arrival of Tej Pratap Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav’s elder brother. His presence was seen as significant, given his long-standing distance from both the RJD and the family’s internal affairs. Tej Pratap came to bless his nephew Iraj, making a rare appearance amid ongoing political and personal strains within the family. His participation is being viewed in political circles as noteworthy, especially as he had earlier been sidelined from both the party and family space following internal differences that escalated after last year’s developments.
While Tej Pratap’s presence drew attention, the absence of Rohini Acharya, daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadav and sister of Tejashwi Yadav, also became a talking point. Her absence is being linked in political discussions to continuing internal tensions within the family, particularly after the Rashtriya Janata Dal’s setback in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Reports suggest that following the defeat, differences within the family deepened, with Rohini Acharya previously leaving the Rabri Devi residence in Patna in an emotional state and travelling to Delhi. Since then, her distance from key family events has been widely noted.
Tejashwi Yadav himself drew attention with a personalised outfit featuring the words “Iraj’s Father”, highlighting the emotional significance of the occasion. He was closely involved in the celebrations, including the cake-cutting ceremony, where Lalu Prasad Yadav also took centre stage, visibly enjoying the festivities.
Invitations were reportedly extended to several prominent national opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal, and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. However, none of the major opposition leaders were present at the event.
This celebration is being seen as the first major family and semi-public gathering of the Lalu family following the significant electoral defeat in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. The event, while centred on a personal milestone, has also revived discussions around internal family dynamics and shifting political equations within the RJD’s first family.
