Pappu Yadav blasts Lalu; to claim RJD's lantern symbol after Janata Parivar merger

Patna: Expelled for six years by the RJD, an angry Pappu Yadav on Thursday attacked Lalu Prasad and said he will claim symbol of RJD after the merger of splinter parties into Janata Parivar.

“I have already written to the Election Commission two days back that I am against merger and in such condition people like me should be allowed to retain RJD election symbol ’lantern’,” Pappu Yadav told reporters in Patna.

He said after holding rallies in Darbhanga on 9 May and in Madhepura his Lok Sabha constituency on 11 May he would organise a meeting of top leaders in Patna on 15 May.

“May 16 onwards you will see a strong RJD with committed people like us,” he said.

Asked if RJD MLAs were with him, Pappu Yadav said “you should come to know about it on May 16.”

Asked if he would lead the group, Pappu Yadav said leadership would be decided after mutual consultations.

The controversial RJD MP questioned his expulsion by RJD raising technical issues and said he would approach EC as well court against it.

“When Lalu Prasad and other leaders locked in merger of Janata Parivar have already declared Mulayam Singh Yadav as President of the new party, how can RJD on diktat of Lalu Prasad expel me?” he asked.

“Only Mulayam Singh Yadav can now take such decision on expulsion of any leader,” he said, adding he would meet Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday.

A signed notice by RJD chief General Secretary Ramdeo Bhandari on Thursday announced expulsion of Pappu Yadav for six years for anti-party activities.

Pappu Yadav spat venom against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and alleged he was shown the door as Prasad saw him as a threat to his son’s succession plans.

“Putramoh me mujko nikal diya party se quanki unko lag raha tha ki mere rahte unka beta RJD ka utradhikari nahi bun sakega (he threw me out of the party for the sake of his son as he knew his son would not succeed him in RJD because of me),” the five-time MP said.

Pappu Yadav expressed apprehension that his rivals might attempt to kill him.

The Madhepura MP alleged that Lalu Prasad’s sons have been steamrolling senior RJD leaders including MPs and MLAs and he raised the issue several times before the RJD president.

“I dare Lalu Prasad to make public the three letters I have written to him in past one year pointing to highhandedness of his sons and they insulting party senior leaders,” an irate Pappu Yadav said.

PTI