Tej Pratap Yadav on Sunday met Anushka Yadav, the woman whose viral photo with him triggered a political and familial fallout, ultimately leading to his expulsion from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by his father, Lalu Prasad Yadav. The meeting, which lasted nearly five hours, was held despite the storm of controversy that followed the image.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tej Pratap said, "We have family relations, so I have come here. No one can stop me from going anywhere. I am in contact with everyone."

The controversy erupted last month when Tej Pratap posted a photo with Anushka Yadav on Facebook, claiming they had been in a relationship for 12 years. Though the post was quickly taken down and he later claimed his account had been “hacked,” the damage was irreversible. The very next day, on May 25, Lalu Prasad Yadav expelled him from the RJD for six years and publicly disowned him, citing his "irresponsible behaviour."

The scandal took another turn when more pictures of Tej Pratap and Anushka began circulating on social media, prompting a strong reaction from his estranged wife, Aishwarya Rai.

“Now everyone knows the truth. I want to know if everyone knew about it, then why did he marry me? Why did he ruin my life?” she asked tearfully in front of the media. “The 12-year secret is out now. If it was going on for so many years, then obviously, his family knew about it.”

Aishwarya Rai, granddaughter of former Bihar Chief Minister Daroga Prasad Rai, married Tej Pratap in 2018. The couple filed for divorce within months of their wedding, and the case is still pending in court. Visibly emotional, Ms Rai alleged that her in-laws had "ruined her life" by marrying her off to a man who, she claimed, had been in a long-term relationship even before their wedding.

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Following his expulsion, Tej Pratap suggested that a conspiracy was being hatched to create a rift between him and his younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav. In a series of cryptic posts on X (formerly Twitter), he accused unnamed individuals whom he referred to metaphorically as "Jaichand" of betrayal.

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Using references from the Mahabharata, he wrote, "Those dreaming of a rift between me and Arjun, will never succeed in conspiracy. They can win over the military of Krishna, but can't capture Krishna himself. I will soon expose every such conspiracy." Without naming Tejashwi, he added, "My brother, I would ask you to have faith that I am with you in all circumstances. My blessings were with you and will be so always. Please take care of Mummy and Papa, Jaichand is outside as well as within."

Tej Pratap, 37, was expelled just months ahead of the crucial Bihar Assembly elections, which the RJD is set to contest under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav. A two-time MLA, Tej Pratap made his political debut in 2015 and served brief terms in the Bihar cabinet.