In a recent political maneuver, Congress leader Pappu Yadav has decided to contest the upcoming elections from Purnea as an independent candidate. This decision comes as a response to the seat-sharing agreement between Congress and the RJD, where Purnea was allocated to the latter.
Yadav, who merged his Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) with the Congress, has appealed to RJD leader Lalu Yadav to reconsider and allocate Purnia to the Congress. His plea follows the RJD’s nomination of former minister and Rupauli MLA Bima Bharati as their candidate for the Purnia seat.
The stance taken by Pappu Yadav has led to tensions within the Grand Alliance in Bihar, the opposition coalition comprising the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties.
In a statement addressing the situation, Yadav expressed gratitude for the support he has received, underscoring his dedication to bolstering the INDIA bloc and the Congress. Despite acknowledging his distress over the past two weeks, Yadav iterated that winning elections is not his primary objective; rather, earning the trust of Bihar and the nation holds precedence.
Reflecting on his relationship with the Congress, Yadav emphasized, “Congress family is to me, I have won their trust and I’ll be with this family forever.”
The recent announcement by the Mahagathbandhan revealed that the RJD, its principal constituent, will contest 26 out of Bihar’s 40 Lok Sabha seats, including Purnia. This decision has added fuel to the ongoing debate surrounding seat allocations within the coalition.
Pappu Yadav’s independent candidacy in Purnea marks a significant divergence from the agreed-upon seat-sharing arrangement, highlighting the complexities and challenges inherent in coalition politics. As Bihar gears up for the electoral battle, the outcome of this internal strife within the Grand Alliance could potentially shape the state’s political landscape in the days to come.
