PAPPU YADAV’S EXPULSION MAY COST LALU IN BIHAR POLLS

PATNA: RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s decision Thursday to expel his one-time protégé Rajesh Ranjan aka Pappu Yadav from the party may affect his party’s performance in the upcoming Bihar polls.

Debarred by law from contest ing elections following his conviction in a fodder scam case and confined to just four seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Lalu has been counting on the Janata Parivar to overwhelm the BJP.

But Pappu’s exit from the party may put a spanner in the works given his clout in the KosiSeemanchal region of north and north-eastern Bihar.

“Now, Pappu is free to chart out his independent political course and take on the merged Janata Parivar led by Lalu and Nitish (Kumar, JD(U) chief) in the state assembly elections. The damage he does to the Janata Parivar will help the BJP,” said an RJD leader, on the condition of anonymity.

Sources close to Pappu said he might join hands with former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s new party, Hindustani Awam Morcha to float a “third alternative” in Bihar.

“This third political outfit, with the tacit support of the BJP, will be a potent force to scuttle the political prospects of the merged Janata Parivar,” said a senior RJD leader of Kosi area.

Pappu has announced he would take a final decision on his next political move after his proposed rally in Patna on May 15. Before that, he has plans to meet Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to discuss the issue of his “unwarranted expulsion”.