Patna: Former MP Rajesh Ranjan, also known as Pappu Yadav, who recently merged his Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) with the Congress, is adamant about contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the Purnia constituency. This stance has put pressure on the Grand Alliance in Bihar, which comprises the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and Left parties.

The Grand Alliance, recently announced that the RJD, its major constituent, will contest 26 out of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats, including Purnia. The Congress will contest nine seats, followed by CPI (ML) on 3 seats, and CPI and CPI (M) with one seat each.

Despite the alliance's decision, Pappu Yadav has announced that he will file his nomination on April 4, instead of April 2 as planned. He has urged RJD supremo Lalu Yadav to reconsider the decision regarding the Purnia seat and allocate it to the Congress. This comes after the RJD announced Bima Bharati as its candidate for the seat.

Addressing the media, Yadav emphasized his loyalty to the Congress party and expressed his commitment to winning the Seemanchal-Kosi region for the party. He also highlighted his track record of winning elections in Purnia and Madhepura constituencies in the past.

Bihar is set to witness polling in seven phases starting from April 19, with the counting of votes scheduled for June 4. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the NDA secured victory on 39 out of 40 seats, while the Mahagathbandhan managed to secure only one seat.

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