Ram Kripal Yadav (File photo)
Bihar politician Ram Kripal Yadav appears on the cusp of a formal break-up with his party chief Lalu Prasad. He met with senior BJP leaders including Rajnath Singh at the Delhi airport today, triggering reports that he will soon join their party.
"I have met Rajnathji today. We had a good meeting. I will comment on the rest of the issues tomorrow," Ram Kripal, currently a member of the Rajya Sabha, told reporters. (
Watch) For more than two decades, the 56-year-old has been part of Lalu's Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD, serving as the go-to guy in multiple crises for the party.
But Lalu spurned his lieutenant by declaring his daughter, Misa Bharti, will contest the national election from Pataliputra, a constituency Ram Kripal hoped to fight for. In protest last week, Ram Kripal quit all his party posts. (
Ram Kripal Yadav quits all party posts after Lalu's daughter gets constituency)
Today, Lalu's wife, Rabri Devi, said that if he drops out of the party, "It will not affect us." Misa, who refers to Ram Kripal as 'chacha" or father's younger brother, said, "It's not a fight between an uncle and niece. It's a fight between ideologies."
A few weeks ago, when a fortnight ago 13 of Lalu's state legislators appeared ready to join the Janata Dal United (JDU), it was Ram Kirpal who staved off a split, wooing nine the rebels back into the fold.
If he joins the BJP and is picked as its candidate for Pataliputra, he will serve as a formidable opponent for Misa Bharti.
On Friday, Misa, who is 37, and has never contested an election, visited Ram Kripal's home in Delhi in an attempt to placate him, but he left his house without meeting her. (
Lalu's daughter on tough peace-keeping mission)
Lalu heads the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD; he was disqualified as a member of parliament last year after he was convicted in a corruption case. Though he has appealed against that verdict in a higher court, he cannot run for election. But Lalu is well-represented in this election by his relatives. (
In RJD's first list, Lalu's wife and daughter)
His wife Rabri Devi, a former chief minister, is the RJD candidate from Saran. His two sons, Tej Pratap and Tejaswi, are active in party work, but cannot contest election because of their age. They are below 25.