Pappu Yadav (Madhepura, RJD)

Noted educationist and social worker Mr Pappu Yadav is the Rashtriya Janata Dal candidate for Madhepura, which is known for its world-famous dahi. Voters in Bihar have showered their affection on him repeatedly. A versatile and flexible parliamentarian, Mr Yadav has been elected as MP four times on four different tickets. In his brief political career, he has represented seven different political parties, including the Samajwadi Party, the RJD, the Lok Janashakti Party and the Congress. During his rule over District Purnia, he promoted family values by encouraging people to stay home with their loved ones after dark. He also reduced pollution in his constituency by causing 75 per cent of the plywood factories to shift to Haryana.

Mr Yadav has come up through a process of struggle. He had to fend for himself after his parents became devoted followers of Ananda Marg, an organisation founded by Shri Prabhat Ranjan Sarcar, who woke up one morning and realized that he was god. Mr Yadav showed promise from a very early age. As a youth, he became active in providing protection to small shopkeepers. Subsequently, he expanded into alternative methods of cinema ticket distribution. While still a teenager, he became a protégé of one Mr Arjun Yadav. After Mr Arjun Yadav was gunned down due to an unfortunate misunderstanding, Mr Pappu Yadav took over his responsibilities in Kosi district and was blessed with good fortune. Several of his main rivals were either murdered or permanently paralysed in a series of unexplained incidents. In 1990, he rose to further prominence after he successfully encouraged 11 independent MLAs to support Lalu Prasad Yadav, thereby enabling him to become Chief Minister of Bihar.

In 1999, thanks to the efforts of rivals, he was jailed for the murder of Mr Ajit Sirkar, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA. Mr Yadav was originally imprisoned in Patna, but he was shifted to Tihar in 2005 after he celebrated the sanction of his bail by throwing a party for his fellow inmates. He had returned to jail in order to attend the party.

During his 10 years in jail, Mr Yadav has made significant contributions in the area of legal reform. After a CBI report in 2005 indicated that he had called up 640 friends and well-wishers while in prison, the Supreme Court ordered the installation of mobile jammers in all jails across India. While in jail, he also wrote his autobiography, Drohkaal ki Pratik. In this book, he provides specific details of various cash incentive schemes introduced by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress for financially challenged members of Parliament.

In 2009, he was convicted for murder. As a result, he could not stand for election. However, in a sympathetic gesture, the Congress selected his mother as candidate from his traditional seat of Purnia. She was supported in her campaign by Ms Sheila Dixit, mother of Mr Sandeep Dixit. Ms Dixit addressed a rally in Purnia, and said, “Delhi has sent me to tell you that Pappu Yadav’s mother is our candidate”.

In a trend that analysts have described as “heartwarming”, many victimised social workers have been given tickets in the current Bihar elections. These include Mr Mohammad Taslimuddin, Mr Surender Yadav, Mr Prabhunath Singh and Mr Rajballabh Yadav from the RJD, Mr Rama Singh and Mr Dhumal Singh from the Janata Dal (United), and Mr Nityanand Rai and Mr Satish Chand Dubey from the BJP. According to experts, these traditional leaders have played a vital role in ensuring the stability of Bihari society.

“They are very similar to Robin Hood”, says Subhashish Nandy, an eminent sociologist. “They rob the rich, so that everyone is poor. In this way, they ensure greater social justice in Bihar.”

In cases where the social worker was not available due to death or imprisonment, parties have extended help to their wives. The BJP is supporting Rama Devi – wife of late Brij Bihari Prasad, while the SP is supporting Lovely Anand – wife of Mr Anand Mohan. The Congress is supporting Ranjita Ranjan, former national tennis player and wife of Mr Pappu Yadav. Mr Yadav himself is contesting on an RJD ticket. The RJD has accepted Mr Yadav back after the Patna High Court acquitted him in 2013 due to “lack of evidence”.

In a recent interview, Mr Yadav has described himself as “a servant of the people who expects nothing for his service, and does not discriminate on the basis of caste or religion.”