Pappu Yadav quits, tipped as RJD man for Madhepura

JD (U) nominee R.P. Yadav today filed his nomination for the October 13 bypoll to Madhepura Lok Sabha seat as Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) seemed caught in a crisis with its incarcerated secretary general and former MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav resigning his post to cross swords with the former.

The bypoll was necessitated after RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav, who won the seat defeating JD(U) rival Sharad Yadav, vacated it to retain Chhapra. When contacted, Pappu Yadav said he had quit the post of LJP secretary-general today to protest against the autocratic functioning of its leader and Union Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan.

‘‘I decided to quit as Paswan did not pay any heed to my suggestion with respect to broadbasing the party and taking disciplinary action against self-seekers detrimental to the growth of the LJP,’’ he said.

Much significance is being attached to Pappu Yadav’s resignation as he is being tipped as a strong contender for the RJD ticket for the seat. Laloo, who is on a pilgrimage of South India, is likely to announce the RJD candidate tomorrow. Other contenders are former RS member Ramendra Kumar Ravi and Bihar Minister Ravindra Charan Yadav.