Laloo’s very own are adding to his M-Y fears

And at a time when a palpable Muslim disenchantment has him worried, Laloo is being openly challenged by Pappu Yadav, strongman of the Purnea-Madhepura region, who says RJD is no longer the sole claimant for Yadav votes.

Chief Minister Rabri Devi’s brother Prabhunath Yadav, who is a candidate in Meerganj, says: ‘‘I had no option but to contest as an Independent.’’ He wanted an RJD ticket. Even Rabri Devi’s parents had brought pressure on Laloo who could not give in since the constituency has a sitting MLA of the CPM, RJD’s alliance partner.

Prabhunath is the eldest among Rabri’s brothers, and unlike Sadhu and Subhash, has not found a place in the RJD. Wives of Subhash and Sadhu— the other two brothers are MPs— were serious contenders for RJD tickets but Laloo turned them down at the last minute after danger signals in the first phase of elections.

Indira Yadav, Sadhu’s wife, has now filed from Gopalganj and Sadhu says it is the ‘‘will of the people.’’

‘‘People wanted her and she has every right to contest as an independent. I have nothing to do with that decision. I am a disciplined worker of the RJD,’’ says Sadhu. Subhash’s wife has not entered the fray.

The feud within the clan is not limited to Bihar’s first family alone. Pappu Yadav, RJD MP from Madhepura, has vowed to defeat all RJD candidates in the region. He wanted more than two dozen tickets for his supporters and Laloo had no room for all.

‘‘I will teach him a lesson. Let him expel me from the party,’’ Pappu challenges Laloo. Most RJD tickets in the Kosi region have gone to supporters of Union minister Taslimuddin, a rival of Pappu. ‘‘Who is Pappu? It is I who decide who wins in this region,’’ says Taslimuddin.

Other parties such as SP, BSP and LJP are trying cash in on many Yadavs who would not be accommodated by the RJD. Chhotu Singh, RJD candidate in Purnea, is not the favourite of the Yadavs. Samajwadi Party’s Ram Charitan Yadav is. In the adjoining Damdaha segment, SP’s Neelam Devi and RJD’s Dilip Yadav are contenders for Yadav votes.

RJD had given tickets to the relatives of many leaders in the first phase, causing resentment within the rank and file. Many fought as independents or got tickets from other parties. In the second and third phases, Laloo denied tickets to his relatives but that too is not enough to contain the dissent.