Lalu’s Catch-22

Sources within the RJD have told The Quint that both Tej Pratap Yadav and his younger brother Tejaswi Yadav are eyeing a seat in the Bihar council of ministers. They say Lalu Prasad Yadav cannot afford to alienate one at the cost of the other, and that both are likely to be appointed ministers or ministers of state with independent charge.

But sources close to the family say Misa Bharti, the eldest daughter and the most seasoned of all her siblings, is being seen as Lalu Prasad Yadav’s eventual political heir.

For now, however, it is unlikely that Lalu will bypass his sons and give Misa a government position, given that she didn’t fight the election. From the looks of it, she will have to wait in the stands for a larger role in the party.