Zee Media Bureau/Deepak Nagpal
New Delhi/Patna: Disgruntled Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Ramkripal Yadav on Saturday resigned from all party posts after he was denied a Lok Sabha ticket from the Patliputra constituency.
Minutes after RJD chief Lalu Prasad categorically stated that his daughter Misa Bharti “will remain RJD`s Lok Sabha polls candidate from Patliputra,” Yadav held a press conference and announced his decision.
“I have resigned from all posts of the party,” Yadav said, while clarifying that he has not yet resigned from the primary membership of the party.
A visibly upset Yadav told reporters, “I have worked for this party, have shed blood and sweat for the RJD. I now feel that yesterday when Misa ji came to meet me it was just `emotional atyachaar` for a simple man like me.”
Misa had yesterday rushed to Delhi to meet party general secretary Yadav following reports that the MP was seeking an entry into BJP after being denied ticket for the Pataliputra parliamentary seat.
Misa, who said she had little clue that Yadav - a Rajya Sabha member - was interested in contesting elections from Pataliputra, had to wait for hours as the RJD leader was not at his residence.
Yadav further said, “I heard through media that Lalu ji said `race ke maidan mein ghoda nahi badla jata`.”
“I come from a very poor family, I still don`t have a proper house. I never had ambitions, just worked for the RJD tirelessly. Our leader had decided to make me a Rajya Sabha member in 2010, I am thankful to the party,” he added.
Misa, meanwhile, today confirmed that she will contest from the Pataliputra seat.
“I will contest on behalf of the RJD from the Pataliputra seat,” Lalu`s daughter told a press conference, shortly after Ramkripal Yadav announced that he was stepping down from all party posts.
“I went to his house to find out why my uncle was disappointed. As soon as he saw me, he ran away,” Misa said, describing Friday`s turn of events when she had gone to Delhi to meet Yadav. “He used the word `Emotional Atyachar`. I did not expect my uncle would use such words.”
The RJD chief is battling a revolt by senior colleagues after fielding his daughter Misa as a candidate in the coming Lok Sabha election -- and denying ticket to other aspirants.
On Thursday, Lalu had announced the names of candidates for 25 of the 27 constituencies his Rashtriya Janata Dal will contest in alliance with the Congress in Bihar.
According to the list, his wife Rabri Devi will be the RJD nominee in Saran.
Some of the party`s influential leaders, including Ramkripal Yadav, were furious that he had given ticket to his daughter -- and ignored their interests.
Yadav, a Rajya Sabha MP who has been close to Lalu Prasad for over two decades, had wanted to contest from Patliputra constituency.
Last month, four rebel RJD legislators did not attend a party meeting amid reports of a split in the party. The party has 22 members in the 243-member Assembly.
