Lalu oust Pappu

Railway Minister and Rastriya Janta Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Friday announced in a public meeting in Purnia that he had expelled Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav for his ‘anti-party activities’.

He was there to address an election rally with his coalition partners: Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) Chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Addressing the public, Lalu Prasad appealed the people not to cast their vote to Pappu Yadav’s sponsored candidate as he has broken the coalition dharma. ‘I have expelled Pappu Yadav from the RJD. He has betrayed RJD. He deviated from the coalition dharma and is now trying to benefit the communal forces in Purnia,’ said the RJD Chief.

Rajesh Ranjan Yadav alias Pappu Yadav is a convict in the murder case of CPM MLA Ajit Sarkar. After his plea for a ‘stay’ in his conviction that was turned down by the Patna High Court, he made his mother Shantipriya Devi an independent candidate from Purnia.

The Congress party is supporting Shantipriya. Pappu Yadav’s wife Ranjeeta Ranjan, who had fought last election from LJP ticket, has now joined congress and nominated from Supaul.

Pappu had fought last election from RJD ticket but this time, he could not get the ticket from RJD.

Alleging Lalu’s high-handedness in distributing tickets for the polls, Pappu left the party and claimed that he had already refused the party ticket and symbol.

Two other RJD MLAs Afaq Alam and Chunni Lal Rajwanshi were also ousted after allegation of supporting Pappu.