File photo of Ram Kripal Yadav
Bihar politician Ram Kripal Yadav, who was for decades the go-to man for his party chief Lalu Prasad, is joining the BJP tomorrow. At least one member has a hostile reception, adding to the BJP's array of problems in its effort to improve its showing in Bihar.
Nawal Kishore Yadav says he is expecting to run as the BJP candidate from Pataliputra, a promise made to him when he joined party after leaving Lalu's Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD less than a month ago. The problem is that Ram Kripal Yadav is expecting the same constituency and quit the RJD after the Pataliputra seat was assigned to Misa Bharti, Lalu's 37-year-old daughter.
"How can the BJP induct Ram Kripal who had said that Modi has thee blood of Muslims on his hands? "asked a livid Nawal Kishore, referring to the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.
For more than two decades, 56-year-old Ram Kirpal was part of Lalu's Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD, steering the party through multiple crises. (
Ram Kripal Yadav quits all party posts after Lalu's daughter gets constituency)
Lalu was disqualified as a Member of Parliament last year after he was convicted in a corruption case and cannot run for election for at least six years. In addition to his daughter Misa, his wife Rabri Devi is also contesting the national election. (
In RJD's first list, Lalu's wife and daughter)
The BJP has been tripping in its maneuvers for alliances and inductions in Bihar. Over the weekend, senior leader Sushma Swaraj said that the party had cleared an alliance with Ram Vilas Paswan's party in the state without approval from the BJP's top decision-making body, its parliamentary board.
The partnership with Mr Paswan was drawn to gain the support of Dalit voters who favour his party, but has upset upper caste BJP leaders like Ashwini Chaubey and CP Thakur who say any benefits will accrue to Mr Paswan.