Former Bihar minister Tej Pratap Yadav has cleared the interview and document verification process for the Ab-Initio to Commercial Pilot License (CPL) course, securing the 5th position among 18 selected candidates. The results were announced by the Bihar Directorate of Aviation on June 20. The interview round for the training programme was conducted between December 16 and 18, 2024. Yadav, a two-time MLA and son of former chief ministers Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, is now preparing to chart a new career path even as his political future remains uncertain.

Tej Pratap’s selection comes weeks after his expulsion from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), the party founded by his father, over alleged “irresponsible behaviour.” His removal from the party followed a series of public controversies, including a Facebook post claiming he was in a romantic relationship, a post he later dismissed as the result of a hacking incident. The controversy drew renewed attention to his strained personal life, particularly allegations from his estranged wife Aishwarya Rai, who claimed she was misled about his past relationships.

Despite the fallout, Tej Pratap has maintained a defiant stance, accusing party insiders of conspiring to drive a wedge between him and his younger brother, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. He has frequently turned to social media, using Mahabharata metaphors to express his continued loyalty to Tejashwi. His political ouster comes just months before the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, adding to speculation about his future course, whether in the skies as a commercial pilot or in a possible political comeback.