Ending speculation, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Bima Bharati on April 3 filed nomination papers from the Purnea Lok Sabha seat in the presence of RJD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, who had joined the Congress recently, will in all likelihood contest the seat as an Independent after RJD supremo Lalu Prasad did not pay attention to his appeal to forego the seat in favour of the Congress.
Mr. Pappu Yadav had earlier merged his Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) with the Congress and on Monday had requested Mr. Prasad to leave the seat for Congress. When Ms. Bharati was filing her nomination papers, Mr. Pappu Yadav was busy campaigning in the constituency. As soon as he came to know about the development, he expressed his disappointment as he had continuously staked claim to contest from Purnea.
Now, it appears likely that the Purnea Lok Sabha seat will witness a triangular fight after Ms. Bharati’s nomination. Janata Dal (United) has repeated Santosh Kushwaha from this seat.
