Tej Pratap Yadav in the soup for asking brother-in-law to stay in official meeting

This was not the first occasion when a Bihar Minister was caught in such a situation

Ministers in Bihar seem to have a penchant for allowing the presence of their close relatives at official events.

The new 'Mahagathbandhan' government in the State is embarrassed over photographs, clicked a few days ago, in which Minister for Environment, Forestry and Climate Change Tej Pratap Yadav is seen along with his brother-in-law at a meeting with department officials.

According to department sources who did not wish to be named, Shailesh Kumar, who is married to Mr. Yadav’s eldest sister Misa Bharti, a Rajya Sabha MP herself, had come to the office on Wednesday to congratulate his wife’s younger brother upon securing a Cabinet berth.

Mr. Yadav, never known to be a stickler for norms, asked the brother-in-law to take a seat beside him until the meeting was over and the two could have a chat, they said.

However, the mercurial leader also ended up sharing pictures of the meeting on Twitter and the BJP, sore over the sudden loss of power, pounced on the opportunity.

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"It is not at all surprising since whatever may be the RJD's posturing with regard to its politics of casteism and religious appeasement, the party is basically meant to further the interests of the family," BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand said in a statement.