Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav has been successful in ruling Bihar for the last 15 years but apparently he has failed to keep his own house in order.

The infighting in Lalu's family has come to the fore at a time when the RJD is facing the daunting challenge thrown up by its chief opposition -- the National Democratic Alliance.

The trouble started when Lalu's sarhaj (wife of a cousin) Indira Devi decided to contest as an Independent after her jijaji Lalu denied her a party ticket for Gopalganj constituency.

Lalu's decision to deny her a ticket had caused a rift among his family members.

Devi, wife of RJD Lok Sabha member of Parliament Anirudh Prasad, alias Sadhu Yadav, submitted her nomination on Friday.

Later, Sadhu's father-in-law Ramadhar Yadav also filed his nomination as an Independent for the same constituency.

RJD has fielded Ambika Yadav in Gopalganj.

"The people of Gopalganj wanted my wife to contest so I had to give in to their wishes," Sadhu said. On his father-in-law throwing his hat into the ring, Sadhu said he would pull out of the contest.

Sadhu's elder brother Prabunath, who was expecting a ticket from Mirganj, has also filed nomination as an Independent in Gopalganj.

The RJD has decided to leave the seat for the Communist Party of India (Marxist) as part of a seat-sharing arrangement.

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