PATNA: Expelled from the party and "disowned" by his family, RJD chief Lalu Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav launched a political front on Tuesday. He announced at a press conference his alliance with Pradeep Nishad's Vanchit Vikas Insaan Party (VVIP). The press conference was attended by the national presidents of the five parties. The five parties are Vikas Vanchit Insaan Party (VVIP), Bhojpuriya Jan Morcha (BJM), Pragatisheel Janta Party (PJP), Wajib Adhikar Party (WAP), and Sanyukt Kisan Vikas Party (SKVP).

Lalu expelled the Hasanpur MLA from RJD for six years and also "disowned" him after his photographs and video with a girl, Anushkaa Yadav, went viral on social media. Taking a dig at his rivals with an oblique reference to his younger brother and the RJD's CM face, Tej said, "I will fight for Bihar. I have many enemies. It will hurt when they hear about it (alliance with VVIP)." He further said sarcastically, "Tejashwi must be watching. I bless him to move forward." Tej also invited RJD and Congress to join his team and called Mukesh Sahani an "impersonator" (bahurupiya). He said the VVIP is the original party.

Pradeep, also known as 'Helicopter Baba' in Bihar, was earlier very close to Mukesh Sahani before launching his new party VVIP on June 28 this year. Pradeep, a resident of Mirzapur in UP, had differences with Mukesh Sahani since 2021 and parted ways for allegedly not getting respect in the VIP. Tej reiterated his plan to contest from his old constituency Mahua in Vaishali and said he had already done a lot for the constituency in his first stint as MLA from there. When asked, Tej ruled out any possibility of Tejashwi contesting from Mahua. "Tejashwi will never contest from there. Leave aside any ifs and buts," he said confidently.