Bihar Mahagathbandhan has frozen out Pappu Yadav, but why it may need him

Indian Express

8 hours ago

As the Opposition hit the streets of Bihar last week to protest against the electoral roll revision in the state and attempted to enforce a bandh, an awkward situation unfolded.
Video clips from the march against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) showed security officials physically stopping the Independent MP from Purnia, Pappu Yadav, from boarding the vehicle carrying Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi, state LoP Tejashwi Yadav, and other leaders of the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). While there were videos of Gandhi's party colleague Kanhaiya Kumar also facing a similar treatment — allegedly not to ruffle Tejashwi — Pappu Yadav subsequently became the bigger talking point.
Though the Purnia MP insisted it was 'not an insult', claiming that he had fallen, and added that it he did not mind getting insulted for the public – 'not just once but even a million times' – the episode revealed that the Independent MP continues to remain out in the cold, on the margins of Opposition politics in the state.
The truck incident came a year after the five-term MP with considerable influence in the Seemanchal region turned the tables on the Mahagathbandhan, after his attempts to join it failed. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he failed to merge his Jan Adhikar Party with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), and when that fell through, he merged it with the Congress. His wife Ranjeet Ranjan is a Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Chhattisgarh.
But when an expected ticket from his new party did not materialise as Purnia was allotted to the RJD during the seat-sharing talks, Pappu Yadav rebelled, alleging the Mahagathbandhan was trying to end his political career. He contested the election on his own and defeated Janata Dal (United) candidate Santosh Kumar by 23,847 votes. The RJD finished a distant third, polling only 27,120 votes.
This act of disobedience earned him the Opposition alliance's wrath and he has been shut out ever since. The latest episode comes at a time when the Purnia MP has oscillated between touting his loyalty to the alliance and chafing at his exclusion. He has joined Opposition protests, including one against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, but the Mahagathbandhan has kept him at an arm's length.
However, given the importance of Pappu Yadav in Muslim-dominated Seemanchal, the Opposition may need to rethink its strategy when it comes to him and has been careful in framing what happened during the July 9 march. Both the RJD and the Congress said the MP's exclusion from the protest march was down to 'security protocols' that are in place around Gandhi, the LoP.
'Every leader has their own identity and the Congress respects that. However, we must adhere to the protocols set by the security officer. Above all, it is crucial to stay focused on the issue for which we are marching, for the millions of people in Bihar. The Opposition is together and we are fully committed to addressing the concerns of the people of Bihar and raising objections to the verdict issued by the Election Commission. We will not allow them to infringe upon the voting rights of EBCs (Extremely Backward Classes), OBCs (Other Backward Classes), Adivasis, and other marginalised communities,' said Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta.
RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari also said it was a matter of protocol and that the Congress decides who should be up on the stage with Gandhi. 'The Congress provided the names and based on those, the security personnel granted permission. In such a large crowd, not everyone could have been on stage. At events with such large crowds, security personnel need to maintain special security as per the protocol and it is important that everyone respects that,' he said.
However, JD(U) leader and state minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary said Pappu Yadav and Kanhaiya were removed because Tejashwi 'does not like them' and that it had exposed fissures in the alliance. 'The RJD dictates how the Congress should work in Bihar … It was deeply embarrassing, you can't even share the stage with Rahul Gandhi just because your alliance partner doesn't like it. Is this a way to treat a partner?'
Contrary to his earlier image of a political figure on the periphery of state politics, Pappu Yadav has now established roots in the Kosi–Seemanchal belt, largely because of his public service and relief efforts. His regular social initiatives, from health camps to disaster relief, have significantly bolstered his on-the-ground image.
During the Covid-19 second wave in 2021, he became known as one of Patna's 'oxygen men,' moving from hospital to hospital to arrange free oxygen cylinders and critical medicines for patients and providing essential aid to struggling families at no cost. When north Bihar faced floods late last year, the Purnia MP toured Saharsa and Darbhanga on a motorcycle, distributing cash and relief supplies and setting up community kitchens.
Actions such as these have solidified Yadav's grassroots influence and independent electoral appeal in the region, helping him maintain a strong connection with a network of young volunteers. Given his grip in the region, where the ongoing SIR will likely pose a threat to the RJD and the Congress's vote base of the poor and minorities, Yadav may end up being either a valuable ally or a challenging figure for the Opposition alliance.