'Disowned' by family, expelled by RJD, Tej Pratap Yadav set to take to skies; clears interview for commercial pilot training

PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav is now set to take to the skies, having cleared the interview for commercial pilot training.The former Bihar minister, known for his spiritual posts as a follower of Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna, has secured the fifth rank among 18 candidates who passed the interview.

The list of successful candidates has been released by the Directorate of Flying Training, a part of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).Tej had appeared for the interview in the 2023-24 cycle for admission to the commercial pilot licence (CPL) course and has now qualified for entry into the Bihar Flying Institute.

The MLA from Hasanpur, recently "disowned" from family and expelled from the RJD for six years by his father following a controversial post with one Anushka Yadav, has long expressed interest in aviation and aspired to build a career in the field.During ‘Operation Sindoor', he posted a video on X dressed in a pilot's uniform and wrote, "The person who flies an airplane must believe in the invisible. The best pilots fly more than others. That's why they are the best."On May 7, he drew attention with a post showing a copy of his Flight Radio Telephone Operator's Licence (Restricted). "If pilot training can be useful for the country, then I, Tej Pratap Yadav, am always ready to serve the country.

I have also taken pilot training and even if I lose my life for the country, I will consider myself lucky," he had posted on a social media platform.The original licence was valid from April 26 , 2011 to April 24 , 2021, and a duplicate was reissued on Feb 21, 2025.On May 9, addressing the Prime Minister, he wrote, "Vande Mataram. All the citizens of our country are together in this situation of crisis. I, Tej Pratap Yadav… am capable of performing my duties as an aviator. I have a strong desire to stand shoulder to shoulder with the soldiers on the border and destroy the evil intentions of the enemies. You are requested to give us citizens an opportunity to serve Mother India. If I lose my life in protecting the country and its citizens, I will consider myself fortunate.

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