Photo Credit: The Suncity News.
Patna, April 4, 2024: Five-time MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav filed his nomination papers on Thursday as an independent candidate for the Purnea Lok Sabha seat, turning the contest triangular and delivering a fresh jolt to the Grand Alliance’s plans in the constituency.
Accompanied by his supporters, Pappu Yadav walked to the District Magistrate’s office in Purnea to submit the nomination.
The former MP had earlier merged his Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) with the Congress on March 20, reportedly in expectation of a Congress ticket for Purnea.
After the seat was allotted to the RJD under the Grand Alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement, Pappu Yadav opted to contest independently.
His entry complicated the race for Bima Bharti, the Grand Alliance candidate, who had been preparing for a straight fight against the NDA nominee. With Pappu Yadav now in the fray, the contest in Purnea is expected to be three-cornered.
Pappy Yadav targeted Lalu Prasad Yadav:
Addressing supporters at a town-hall meeting after filing his papers, he aired sharp grievances against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and some Congress leaders.
“I don’t know what problem Lalu Prasad Yadav has with me,” he said, alleging that he was betrayed after merging his party on the assurance of supporters.
“When I met him, I assured him that I would support his son. Still, he, along with some Congress leaders, cheated me.”
He also questioned Lalu’s commitment to secularism while referring to several local ticket decisions.
“Why have you cut the tickets of Kanhaiya Kumar and Nikhil Kumar? Why was Prabhunath Singh’s son denied a ticket? Mohammad Shahabuddin dedicated his life to RJD, but why was his wife Hina Shahab denied a ticket?”
Pappu Yadav on his party’s merger with the Congress:
Pappu Yadav asserted that the JAP merger with Congress was driven by a wider ideological goal—to combat communal forces and not for personal gain.
“I merged my party to fight against communal forces. I will not leave Purnea till my last breath. I stand with the ideology of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi,” he said.
Despite his criticism of local leadership, Pappu Yadav indicated willingness to cooperate with the Grand Alliance where needed, saying he was prepared to campaign for Misa Bharti, Rohini Acharya, and to support Hina Shahab in Siwan, if called upon.
Political observers say Yadav’s independent entry could split anti-NDA voters in Purnea, making the contest unpredictable.
The development is likely to force both the Grand Alliance and the NDA to recalibrate their ground strategy in the constituency.
Also Read: Pappu Yadav will contest the LS poll 2024 from Purnea.
EOM.