Disgruntled RJD leader and party Rajya Sabha member Ram Kripal Yadav on Monday declared that he would contest the upcoming lok Sabha polls from Patliputra constituency. In other political development, former MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, joined the RJD in the presence of party chief lalu Prasad.
“I’ll contest from Patliputra constituency. My supporters have taken a decision this regard in a meeting today,” Ram Kripal Yadav told mediapersons at his residence in Patna. The Rajya Sabha member has already resigned from all his party posts after being denied ticket from Patliputra seat. lalu had fielded his eldest daughter Misa Bharti from the constituency denying claim of his longtime loyalist Ram Kripal Yadav.
Hinting that he may be joining the BJP, Ram Kripal said, “I’m in touch with the BJP leaders also.” Sources close to him said that he might be joining the BJP on Tuesday. Earlier, when all efforts by the RJD leaders and lalu’s daughter Misa Bharti to mollify Ram Kripal went in vain, leaders from both the BJP and the ruling party JD(U) welcomed Ram Kripal in their respective parties, calling him a loyal and hardworking political leader.
“Both JD (U) and BJP leaders have offered Kripal the party ticket to contest against lalu’s daughter in the polls,” said a RJD leader close to Kripal. Meanwhile, in another major political development, controversial former MP Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, joined the RJD and showered lavish praises on lalu’s commitment towards improving social justice and poverty.
Pappu Yadav, who was recently acquitted from Patna High Court in connection with the murder of former CPI(M) MlA from Purnia Ajit Sarkar, is likely to contest the upcoming lok Sabha polls from Madhepura on RJD ticket. His wife Ranjit Ranjan has been given a ticket to contest the polls from Supaul from the Congress. Both the Congress and RJD recently struck an alliance for the lS polls. Meanwhile, other disgruntled RJD leader Ghulam Gaus joined the JD(U) on Monday. He flayed lalu Prasad for keeping loyalty towards family ahead of the social justice. “There is no place now in the RJD for dedicated and sincere leaders like us…so there was no point being there,” he said after joining the JD(U).
Gaus in all likelihood would be contesting the forthcoming lok Sabha polls from Muslim-dominated Madhubani constituency under the JD(U). Significantly, senior JD(U) leader and Minister in Nitish Kumar’s Cabinet Narendra Singh had expressed his displeasure over ticket distribution. “The way every new comer is being given party tickets at the cost of dedicated party leaders is not just or good for the party”, he rued.