Patna: Former health minister Tej Pratap Yadav on Monday celebrated his 29th birthday with 29 children from the Dalit tola in Patna's Yarpur locality.

Last year, the RJD leader had celebrated his birthday on a grand scale at his 3 Deshratna Marg bungalow with father Lalu Prasad, mother Rabri Devi and elder sister Misa Bharti.

This year, with his father in jail, Tej Pratap chose to celebrate his birthday with the children of slum dwellers.

The celebrations began at 11am. Tej Pratap cut and shared his birthday cake with the children and distributed chocolates and clothes among them. He also met a few Dalit families. Asked if his fiancée, RJD MLA and former minister Chandrika Rai's daughter Aishwarya Rai, had wished him, Tej Pratap blushed.

"Yes, she called up to wish me," he said. He denied she had sent any special message.

He is to marry Aishwarya on May 12. Earlier in the morning, Tej Pratap touched the feet of his mother Rabri Devi to take her blessings.

Younger brother and leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav also wished Tej Pratap and prayed for his long life. Later in the day, however, the news of the CBI filing the charge sheet against Lalu, Rabri and Tejashwi in the land for hotels case must have come as a dampener.