Patna: Madhepura which has been RJD’s traditional seat is poised to witness a triangular fight as three political heavyweights — veteran Socialist leader Sharad Yadav, senior JD(U) leader Dinesh Chandra Yadav and Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, are locked in a tough do-or-die battle.
The four-term MP from the seat, Sharad Yadav, has been nominated by the RJD this time. Analysts claim that after Nitish Kumar joined the BJP-led NDA in July 2017, Sharad Yadav sided with the RJD- Congress-led grand alliance in Bihar.
In 2014, Sharad Yadav was defeated by RJD nominee Pappu Yadav.
Pappu Yadav later floated the Jan Adhikar Party after he was expelled from the RJD for engaging in anti-party activities. However, in 2019, he tried to mend fences with the RJD, but couldn’t get into the grand alliance due to differences with Tejashwi Yadav, who is now a de facto leader of the party in the absence of his father Lalu Yadav.
In March after RJD turned down his offer, Pappu Yadav created a flutter in the grand alliance by filing a nomination from Madhepura as an Independent candidate.
Analysts are of the opinion that three strong candidates belonging to the same fold (Yadav) may confuse voters this time. The Yadavs have maximum representation in Madhepura with about 37 per cent of the local population.
“I wanted to get into the grand alliance, but some people placed their ego above everything. I have now turned to my own people and I know that they will bless me again,” Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, said.
Similarly, the Saran seat has become a prestigious battle for Lalu Yadav and his party.
