Lalu Family’s ‘S3’ Entry: How History Is Repeating Itself in Bihar Politics

Patna: The political landscape of Bihar appears to be revisiting its past as a new figure—labelled ‘S3’—enters the Lalu Prasad Yadav family’s inner circle, triggering fresh controversy and internal discord. For decades, Lalu Prasad witnessed both meteoric rise and steep decline in politics, with his brothers-in-law Sadhu Yadav and Subhash Yadav—popularly known as S1 and S2—often accused of influencing and damaging the family’s political fortunes.
Now, history seems to be repeating itself.

S3: The New Power Centre Around Tejashwi Yadav

With former Haryana leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Yadav becoming a key advisor to Tejashwi Yadav, he is being widely referred to as ‘S3’. Tejashwi, chosen as Lalu’s political heir in 2015, has long been the family’s rising face. His elevation over elder siblings—Misa Bharti and Tej Pratap Yadav—had earlier triggered debate within the party and the family.

When the 2015 Grand Alliance government was formed, Tejashwi became deputy chief minister while Tej Pratap was brought into the cabinet after internal pressure. But the simmering tensions never fully subsided.

2025: The Rohini Challenge

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Lalu fielded two of his daughters—Misa Bharti from Pataliputra and Rohini Acharya from Saran. Rohini’s candidature drew attention due to her donating a kidney to her father—a gesture widely seen as emotional acknowledgment by the party. Though she lost, Rohini continued to be a strong and vocal presence on social media.

Ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections, her anger burst into the open. On November 14, shortly after the election results, Rohini accused S3—Sanjay Yadav—of manipulation and interference. She alleged misbehavior at the Lalu residence, claiming even footwear was thrown at her.
The rest of the family maintained silence, adding to the speculation of deepening fissures.

Tej Pratap’s Turbulent Chapter

Tej Pratap Yadav’s personal controversies have plagued the family since the 2020 elections. His troubled marriage with Aishwarya Rai, and public accusations by Aishwarya’s father Chandrika Rai—who contested on a JD(U) ticket—became a major campaign issue.
The dispute escalated over the years, culminating in Lalu Prasad expelling Tej Pratap from the RJD for six years.

In 2025, Tej Pratap floated his own party, Janshakti Janata Dal, contesting multiple seats and securing around 35,000 votes in Mahua—splitting votes and contributing to RJD’s defeat. He has openly backed sister Rohini and repeatedly labelled Sanjay Yadav as a “traitor” and “Jaychand”.

A Tightrope Walk for Tejashwi

For Tejashwi, the challenge is no longer limited to the opposition NDA. His own family members have turned into critics, especially after RJD’s poor performance in 2025. Protests against Sanjay Yadav have even erupted outside Lalu’s residence, signaling a growing resentment among party workers.

The big question now is:
Will S3 strengthen Tejashwi’s leadership—or will he become another S1 and S2, repeating a history that once cost the Lalu-Rabri regime its grip on power?

How Tejashwi navigates this crisis will not only shape the RJD’s future but also determine the political trajectory of the Lalu Prasad Yadav family itself.