BREAKING: Pappu Yadav To File Nomination From Purnea Lok Sabha Seat

Patna: Former MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav has said that he will file his nomination for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on April 2 from the Purnea Lok Sabha seat. This comes as a major setback to the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar and Opposition's INDI alliance as bloc partner Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has already announced Bima Bharti as its candidate from the Purnea seat. 

Pappu Yadav's office said that he will file nomination from the Purnea Lok Sabha seat, reported news agency ANI. 

He had earlie ruled out the possibility of fighting as a rebel candidate and dropped hints of his expectations from the party, as he spoke of "friendly fights" in several constituencies among INDI bloc partners. His wife Ranjit Ranjan is a Rajya Sabha MP of the Congress.

"I am committed to making Rahul Gandhi the country's Prime Minister and helping the Congress revive in Bihar where, five years from now, it will be a force to reckon with in all 40 Lok Sabha constituencies," Yadav said. "I have held in my hands the Congress flag, never to let it go till my last breath. I will work to make Congress strong in Purnea and the effect will be for all to see when voting is held on April 26," he added. 

The former MP, who merged his Jan Adhikar Party with Congress and had claimed that Purnea ticket was assured to him by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, replied in the negative when he was asked whether he would contest as an Independent.

After RJD president Lalu Prasad gave party ticket from Purnea to JD(U) turncoat Bima Bharti last week, speculations were rife that Yadav might be asked to try his luck from Madhepura or Supaul which his wife had represented twice. However, the RJD muscled its way through and all three seats fell into its kitty.