As soon as JD(U) president Sharad Yadav declared on Friday that he would contest the upcoming Parliamentary poll from Madhepura constituency, the heavyweight leader and former MP Pappu Yadav announced to throw his hat in the ring against Sharad Yadav. Pappu Yadav, a controversial leader, was recently acquitted from the Patna High court in connection with the murder case of former CPM leader Ajit Sarkar.
Ever since his acquittal from the court Pappu Yadav alias Rajesh Ranjan has been politically active in the Kosi area, especially in Madhepura and Purnia region. “I’ll contest JD(U) president Sharad Yadav from Madhepura and Uday Singh of the BJP from Purnia,” declared Pappu Yadav while adding that people of the both the constituencies were with him this time and “they would ensure his victory against both the JD(U) and the BJP candidates.”
Pappu Yadav, earlier, had won thrice from Purnia in 1991, 1996 and 1999 while in 2004 he had registered victory from Madhepura lok Sabha constituency in bypolls. His wife and former MP Ranjita Ranjan is also likely to contest on a Congress ticket from any constituency in that area. Earlier, it was reported that the JD(U) president was keen to contest the lok Sabha poll and wanted to be a Rajya Sabha nominee from the party quota, but the party leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar thwarted his wish reportedly saying it would send a wrong message.
It is reliably learnt that the Bihar Chief Minister even had offered him a safe lok Sabha constituency of his home town Nalanda to Sharad Yadav to contest, but later the JD(U) president, who earlier had cited his poor health reason for not to contest the lS poll, declared that he would contest the poll from Madhepura itself. Madhepura is Yadav dominated Parliamentary constituency from where Pappu Yadav and lalu Prasad Yadav too have been elected to the Parliament. The Congress is likely to declare its poll partner in the State by January 31.