A former RJD MLA, Rajballabh Yadav, has sparked a political firestorm with his comments on Tejashwi Yadav’s wife, leading to heightened tensions in Bihar. Yadav, who recently completed a jail term, criticized Tejashwi Yadav’s marriage and his wife, igniting controversy and protests from within the RJD.
During a public address, Yadav questioned Tejashwi’s choice of a wife from outside the Yadav community, claiming it would have been more beneficial if he had married within the community. He was also critical of Tejashwi’s wife’s origins. This has resulted in strong reactions and protests from the RJD.
Rajballabh Yadav, after his release, has added fuel to the political discourse in Bihar. He was recently acquitted by the Patna High Court in a case concerning the alleged rape of a minor, after serving a sentence of over nine years.
Yadav’s political career began in 1995 when he won as an independent candidate. He later joined the RJD and secured a win in the 2000 assembly elections, subsequently becoming a minister. Despite his initial success, he faced defeats in subsequent elections.
In 2015, he won again through an alliance between JDU, RJD, and Congress. However, in February 2016, he was charged with the rape of a minor, and he was convicted in December 2018.
His membership in the Bihar assembly was revoked after the conviction. While JDU’s Kaushal Yadav won the by-election in 2019, Rajballabh Prasad’s wife, Vibha Devi, won the 2020 elections as an RJD candidate.
Rajballabh Yadav was suspended from the RJD in 2016 following the case and was barred from participating in elections after his conviction. The Patna High Court overturned the lower court’s ruling and acquitted him in August of the alleged rape case. The alleged incident occurred at his residence in Nawada in February 2016.
Tejashwi Yadav is married to Rachel Godinho, a resident of Chandigarh. They married in 2021, after which she changed her name to Rajshree Yadav. The comments made by Rajballabh Yadav have led to strong reactions and counter-statements from the RJD.