NEW DELHI: As Bihar gears up for the first phase of assembly elections tomorrow, a video from Patna airport has gone viral on social media. The clip shows an unexpected encounter between estranged brothers Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Pratap Yadav.The video, captured during a podcast shoot by YouTuber Samdish, shows Tej Pratap Yadav, chief of the newly formed Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), inside a garment store browsing Nehru jackets with Samdish when a party worker informs him that his younger brother, Tejashwi Yadav, is also at the airport. Tejashwi, the Mahagathbandhan’s chief ministerial candidate and RJD leader was seen along with Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani.In the viral clip, Tejashwi smiles and greets the YouTuber, asking, “Shopping karwa rahe hai bhaiya?” (Are you shopping with brother?) to which Samdish replies, “Woh humko gift de rahe hai.” (He’s giving me a gift.)Tejashwi responds, “You’re very lucky,” before shaking hands with the YouTuber. Moments later, the camera pans back to Tej Pratap, who quietly watches the exchange before turning away without a word. When asked by youtuber if the brothers are not on talking terms, Tej Pratap pauses, then softly says he’s “doing fine.”The clip has spread rapidly across social media platforms, with users interpreting the silence between the brothers as both awkward and emotional. Many viewers commented that “political differences may divide leaders, but the bond of brotherhood remains.”A widely shared post read, “All the relationships in the world on one side, and the bond of a brother on the other — a brother is a brother after all.”The moment has struck an emotional chord online, coming just a day before the first phase of polling. With both brothers campaigning for rival fronts — Tejashwi for the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan and Tej Pratap leading his own JJD — the scene underscored the widening political and personal rift within the Yadav family.In recent months, tensions between the brothers have been visible. Tej Pratap, who was expelled from the Rashtriya Janata Dal earlier this year for what the party described as “serious breaches of moral and social values,” has repeatedly taken jibes at his younger brother. Just yesterday, he referred to Tejashwi as “still a child” and remarked that “after the elections, we’ll hand him a toy (jhunjhuna)”, suggesting that his brother lacks political maturity. Earlier, Tej Pratap had unfollowed Tejashwi on X, signaling the deepening feud between them.The family feud dates back to earlier controversies involving Tej Pratap. He was expelled from the RJD and reportedly distanced by the Yadav family after a Facebook post in which he claimed to be in a long-term relationship with a woman went viral, sparking a public dispute. The post also reignited discussion about his turbulent marriage with Aishwarya, granddaughter of former Bihar chief minister Daroga Rai, who left their home within months of marriage alleging mistreatment. Their divorce case remains pending in court.Since his expulsion, Tej Pratap has launched his own political outfit, the Janshakti Janata Dal (JJD), and has ruled out any reconciliation with the RJD, saying he would “choose death over returning to that party.” He has maintained that he is guided by “principles and self-respect,” not power.The JJD chief is contesting from the Mahua constituency, while Tejashwi is leading the Mahagathbandhan’s statewide campaign alongside Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) leader Mukesh Sahani, who has been named the alliance’s deputy chief ministerial face.Voting for the Bihar Assembly will take place in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results to be declared on November 14.
