Expressing his support for his brother Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap on Tuesday, 28 May, said those who do not like the former's leadership "can leave" and that he will continue to stand by Tejashwi.
The simmering discontent in RJD has come to the fore following its rout in the Lok Sabha elections, with a senior party legislator Maheshwar Prasad Yadav on Monday, 27 May, asking Tejashwi to resign from the post of Leader of Opposition taking moral responsibility of the drubbing.
Tej Pratap took to Twitter on Tuesday and said, "Whoever has a doubt about Tejashwi's leadership can leave RJD."
RJD is the second party from the five-party mahagathbandhan to face the heat of having lost to the NDA in Bihar.
Except for one seat of Kisanganj won by the Congress, the BJP, JD(U) and LJP combine bagged 39 out of a total 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar.
Reports of a rift between the two brothers have surfaced from time-to-time. Earlier in April, in a veiled jibe at Tejashwi, Tej Pratap had likened him to mythological character, Duryodhan, without naming him.
In March, Tej Pratap had resigned as the 'sanrakshak' (patron) of the party's students wing, signalling all was not well within the family.
"I am resigning from the post of Chhatra Rashtriya Janata Dal Sanrakshak. Those who think I am ignorant are ignorant themselves. I am well aware of who is worth what," he had tweeted.
Tej Pratap is known to have thrown a fit on many occasions for being 'sidelined' in the party ever since Tejashwi Yadav has been declared as the political heir apparent of Lalu Prasad.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
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