Sanjay Yadav and Rameez Khan have emerged as central figures in the ongoing controversy within the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), following the party’s heavy defeat in the Bihar assembly elections and public accusations from Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD founder Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Their names, mentioned in Rohini’s emotional announcement of her exit from politics and estrangement from her family, have ignited debate across Bihar’s political circles over their roles, influence, and the deeper fissures in RJD’s top leadership.
Who is Sanjay Yadav?
Sanjay Yadav is a Rajya Sabha member from Bihar since 2024 and is widely known as the senior political advisor and most trusted aide of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.
Originally from Haryana, Yadav’s political journey began with his association in youth politics and later membership in the Samajwadi Party before joining RJD in 2012. Sanjay’s closeness to Tejashwi has made him a pivotal figure in party decision-making—often acting as a “gatekeeper” who manages access to the leader and influences ticket allocation and strategy.
He has played key roles in expanding RJD’s outreach during the 2015 and 2020 elections by advocating for broader social alliances, notably among Kushwaha voters, and has been instrumental in several political maneuvers, including the negotiation of alliances with Janata Dal (United).
However, his growing influence has also generated internal resentment, with some senior RJD members feeling marginalized, fueling allegations that Yadav has contributed to divisions within both the party and the Yadav family itself. Even Lalu’s eldest son Tej Pratap Yadav has publicly criticized Sanjay, accusing him of undermining the family and calling him “Jaychand”—a term associated with betrayal in Indian history.
Who is Rameez Khan?
Rameez Nemat Khan, often referred to as Rameez Khan, is a long-time confidant of Tejashwi Yadav. Hailing from Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh, Rameez’s relationship with Tejashwi started on the cricket field and evolved into a trusted advisory role, focusing on campaign management and social media strategy for the RJD leader.
However, Khan’s profile is marred by serious criminal allegations, including involvement in murders in 2021 (Tulsipur Nagar Panchayat chairman Firoz Ahmed Pappu) and 2023 (contractor Mohammad Shakeel Ahmed), along with multiple charges under the Gangsters Act. He was recently released on bail and has had property worth nearly ₹4.75 crore seized by the Uttar Pradesh government as part of criminal proceedings.
Rameez Khan’s perceived behind-the-scenes power in RJD—despite his controversial record—has sparked criticism from Rohini Acharya and others, who accuse him of playing an outsized role in Tejashwi’s inner circle at the cost of sidelining senior party members and contributing to the leadership’s recent failures.
The ongoing controversy
After the RJD’s rout in the 2025 Bihar elections, Rohini Acharya accused both Sanjay Yadav and Rameez Khan of orchestrating her political isolation and indirectly contributing to the party’s decline. She stated on social media that it was at their suggestion she decided to quit politics and disown her family, comments that have been interpreted as part of a much deeper rift within the powerful Yadav household. This schism is exacerbated by longstanding internal tensions, with both Sanjay and Rameez seen as divisive figures whose proximity to Tejashwi Yadav has, according to critics, resulted in the alienation of not just family members like Rohini and Tej Pratap but also many senior RJD leaders.