Last June marked a gathering of leading opposition figures in Patna. At that time, the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav were spearheading the campaign to unify the opposition parties. Pappu Yadav, the head of Jan Adhikar Party (JAP), was also appealing to be included in this alliance.
Expressing his disappointment at not being invited to the first meeting, Pappu Yadav claimed he had requested Lalu Yadav and Nitish Kumar to incorporate him into the grand alliance. Lalu Yadav responded that Tejashwi would make the decision. Despite repeated attempts to reach Tejashwi Yadav, efforts to communicate were unsuccessful.
In subsequent meetings in Bangalore, Pappu received no invitation. He openly wondered, whose feet does one have to hold to be a part of the INDIA bloc? CM Nitish Kumar's, Lalu Yadav's, or Tejashwi Yadav's? Pappu even declared that if JAP were not included in the alliance, they would contest alone on three to five seats. Months passed since then and suddenly one morning, Pappu Yadav shared a picture on social media with Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav discussing strategies to defeat the NDA in a familial setting.
Hours after posting this picture, Pappu Yadav merged his party with the Congress. Now the discussion revolves around why Pappu Yadav, who was previously ignored by Tejashwi Yadav and Congress, has become an asset all of a sudden. Some see this as a move by the opposition to consolidate every vote post the JDU's exit from NDA, while others attribute it to the efforts of his wife and Congress leader Ranjit Ranjan.
Senior Bihar journalist Omprakash Ashk said Pappu Yadav has a strong hold in the Kosi and Seemanchal regions. With JDU joining NDA, had JAP contested separately, it would have damaged the INDIA bloc's prospects, particularly RJD’s share of the Yadav votes. Pappu Yadav has modest ambitions; he seeks only one seat for himself, Purnia. His inclusion will not only prevent the fragmentation of the Yadav vote, but his proactive role in every disaster post the Patna floods will consolidate his modest voter base across various sectors for the benefit of the INDIA bloc in Bihar.
Another factor is Anand Mohan's family distancing from Lalu and joining hands with JDU. Both Anand Mohan and Pappu Yadav wield considerable influence in the Kosi-Seemanchal region. In the last decade of the 20th century, Anand parted ways with Lalu post-reservation to form the Bihar People's Party, which brought Pappu Yadav closer to the RJD leader. A former MLA and five-time MP, Pappu Yadav left RJD in 2015 over grievances with Tejashwi Yadav's statements. Pappu Yadav's wife Ranjit Ranjan has been with Congress for some time.
Pappu Yadav's Influence in the Kosi-Seemanchal Region
Pappu Yadav enjoys considerable support in the Kosi and Seemanchal areas, encompassing seven Lok Sabha seats—Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, Madhepura, Katihar, Khagaria, and Supaul. With high expectations from Yadav and Muslim communities in this region, any potential division of Yadav votes was a concern for the opposition alliance.
