Rupauli By-Polls: Pappu Yadav Supports RJD Candidate Bima Bharti Despite Defeating Her In Lok Sabha Election In Purnia

Purnia MP Pappu Yadav has extended his support for Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate Bima Bharti for Rupauli by-polls, Dainik Jagran reported.

This is interesting because Yadav had defeated Bharti in the Lok Sabha elections by a margin of 5.4 lakh votes but is now seeking votes for her.

Last week, Bharti had sought Yadav's support but he did not reveal his decision at that time. However, in a press conference held on Monday (8 July), he called Bharti 'daughter of Rupauli'.

Notably, Bharti is a three-time Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] MLA of Rupauli but had to resign as she joined RJD ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and got the ticket to contest in Purnia.

After her loss to Yadav, RJD gave her ticket for Rupauli by-polls, as the seat was vacated by her resignation. JD(U) has fielded Kaladhar Prasad Mandal.

Former Rupauli MLA Shankar Singh is contesting as an Independent. Bharti has defeated Singh thrice, twice when he contested on Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) ticket and once as an Independent in 2020.

Yadav also apologised on behalf of Bharti and promised to bring development for Rupauli. Rupauli is one of the six Assembly constituencies that come under Purnia Parliamentary constituency.

Earlier, Yadav had said that he would support Bharti only when he gets such an order from Delhi. That order might have come as RJD and Congress are in alliance.

While Yadav contested as an Independent, he calls himself a Congress worker. He had merged his Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) with Congress before the elections.