Sibling rivalry has hit the RJD in a big way as former Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s controversial brother Sadhu Yadav has decided to take on her from Saran. The seat was represented by RJD chief lalu Prasad, who fielded his wife after being barred from contesting polls following his conviction in a fodder scam case.
Sadhu Yadav, officially known as Anirudh Prasad Yadav, was expelled from the Congress in August for meeting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad and heaping praise on him. “I will contest from Saran as an Independent candidate to highlight how this constituency has been neglected for long,” said Sadhu Yadav. The BJP has re-nominated its general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy from Saran.Sadhu Yadav hails from the neighbouring Gopalganj district. If he could grab even a portion of Yadav votes, things could get easier for Rudy. Both Yadavs and Rajputs are dominant in Saran lok Sabha constituency. While Rudy has been getting bulk of the Rajput votes, Yadavs were voting for lalu Prasad. The JD(U) has fielded a Muslim leader Salim Pravej from Saran.
Political pundits believe that with Ram Vilas Paswan joining the NDA fold, Dalit votes could go to the BJP candidate. The Sadhu factor could further dent Rabri Devi’s chances in the constituency where lalu Prasad prestige is at stake. In 2009, Sadhu Yadav had contested lok Sabha poll from Bettiah Parliamentary constituency on a Congress ticket and had lost to BJP’s Sanjay Agrawal.
Sources close to Sadhu Yadav told The Pioneer that this time he wanted to contest election from Valmikinagar constituency on a BJP ticket. But the State unit of the BJP opposed his induction in the party. Sources said Sadhu has jumped into the poll fray in consultation of the BJP leadership.
Sadhu Yadav is on bail in a case registered against him for allegedly assaulting then transport secretary NK Sinha in his Patna office in January 2001. Ever since lalu Prasad snapped ties with Sadhu Yadav, this once all-powerful brother-in-law of the RJD chief has gone into political wilderness.