Patna: Independent MP Rajesh Ranjan, better known as Pappu Yadav, declared a fresh alignment with the Congress on Sunday, following a meeting with former Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) leaders in Patna. The leaders unanimously resolved to merge with the Congress, a move Pappu described as a decisive step toward strengthening the party in Bihar and intensifying the fight for social justice.
Pappu said he would soon meet the Congress high command in Delhi and announced plans to organise a mass rally at Patna’s Gandhi Maidan, inviting Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to energise the party’s base in the state.
“From today, every one of our workers will work to strengthen the Congress,” Pappu said. “Rahul Gandhi represents the aspirations of the last person. Through Bharat Jodo Yatra, he gave voice to the poor and the excluded.”
Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of political opportunism, Pappu called the recent statement on caste census a case of “jumlebaazi” and demanded a model similar to Telangana’s comprehensive caste enumeration. “Justice means: as much population, so much share,” he asserted.
Pappu also hit out at the BJP’s rhetoric on national security and reservations. He alleged that Modi branded him an “urban Naxal” for demanding caste data, while questioning the double standards in media discourse on caste identity. “Modi ji’s caste is never questioned. But when it comes to our leaders, even their sacred thread and father’s name are probed. Why this silence from the godi media?” he said.
Raising broader issues, Pappu asked whether the BJP would support reservation in the private sector or name an EBC, SC, or ST candidate as its next Prime Minister. He labelled the BJP as “Kursi Modi,” claiming the party would do anything for power, and accused it of politicising the recent Pahalgam incident to distract from social justice demands.
Pappu said he would work to dismantle the NDA in Bihar and reinforce the INDIA alliance. Backing Congress leadership within the Mahagathbandhan, he said the party should contest at least 100 seats in the upcoming elections. “The Congress is the spine of the alliance,” he said. “Every party will have its own programme, but the leadership decision must come from the top.”
He further dismissed the BJP’s standing in Bihar, claiming it is “in a zero position” without Nitish Kumar and should first “look into its own affairs” before targeting others.
