Pappu Yadav | |
|---|---|
%2c_Shri_Rajesh_Ranjan_(Pappu_Yadav)_meeting_the_Union_Minister_for_Railways%2c_Shri_Suresh_Prabhakar_Prabhu%2c_in_New_Delhi_on_March_22%2c_2016_(cropped).jpg) | |
| Member of Parliament,Lok Sabha | |
| Assumed office 4 June 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Santosh Kumar Kushwaha |
| Constituency | Purnia |
| In office 16 May 2014 – 23 May 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Sharad Yadav |
| Succeeded by | Dinesh Chandra Yadav |
| Constituency | Madhepura |
| In office 16 May 2004 – 18 May 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Lalu Prasad Yadav |
| Succeeded by | Sharad Yadav |
| Constituency | Madhepura |
| In office 6 October 1999 – 16 May 2004 | |
| Preceded by | Jai Krishna Mandal |
| Succeeded by | Uday Singh |
| Constituency | Purnea |
| In office 15 June 1991 – 4 December 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Mohammed Taslimuddin |
| Succeeded by | Jai Krishna Mandal |
| Constituency | Purnea |
| Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly | |
| In office 1990–1991 | |
| Preceded by | Ramendra Kumar Yadav |
| Succeeded by | Bam Bhola Yadav |
| Constituency | Singheshwar |
| President ofJan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) | |
| In office 9 May 2015 – 20 March 2024 | |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rajesh Ranjan (1967-12-24)24 December 1967 (age 57) |
| Political party |  Indian National Congress(since 2024) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2024),
|
| Spouse | Ranjeet Ranjan (INC) |
| Children |
|
| Residence(s) | AB-7, Pandara Road,DelhiNCT of Delhi, 110001 |
| Education | Bachelor of Arts (B N Mandal University) |
Rajesh Ranjan (born 24 December 1967) popularly known asPappu Yadav, is an Indian politician fromBihar, and amember of Parliament (MP) representingPurnia constituency in Bihar.[1][2]
Emerging from a background linked to crime, Pappu Yadav transitioned into politics in the 1990s. He has been elected to theLok Sabha in1991,1996,1999,2004,2014 and2024, representing various constituencies in Bihar either independently or under different party banners including theSamajwadi Party,Lok Janshakti Party, andRashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), but his electoral success has been largely independent of party affiliations.
In the 2015 Bihar elections he formed his own party,Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik)[3] but failed to make any impact and could barely capture any votes.[4] On 20 March 2024, he merged his party with theIndian National Congress (INC).[5]
Pappu Yadav was born on 24 December 1967 in azamindar[6] family in Khurda Karveli village (Kumarkhand block),Madhepura district,Bihar. He studied inAnand Marg School at Anand Palli,Supaul. He completed graduation inpolitical science fromB. N. Mandal University,Madhepura and a diploma indisaster management andhuman rights fromIGNOU.[7]
Rajesh Ranjan is his official name but nickname Pappu was given by his grandfather in childhood. He is married toRanjeet Ranjan. She was also an MP fromMadhepura but lost toJanata Dal (United) (JDU) in 2019 general election. His sonSarthak Ranjan, is aT-20cricket player forDelhi.[8][9]
Yadav's entry into the criminal world was facilitated by his maternal uncle, Arjun Singh, a dominant figure in his district, who used to run aparallel government in the area. Yadav succeeded Singh in his operations and founded the youth organizationYuva Shakti, which allegedly engaged in criminal activities under his leadership.[10]
Yadav's political journey began with his independent win in theSingheshwar constituency in the1990 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. He soon garnered the attention of prominent politicians, including RJD chiefLalu Prasad Yadav. In the1991 Indian general election, Yadav won the Purnia Lok Sabha constituency with a significant margin, solidifying his influence in theKosi region.
In 2008, Yadav was convicted of murder and sentenced tolife imprisonment, which disqualified him from fighting future elections.[11]
%2c_Shri_Rajesh_Ranjan_(Pappu_Yadav)_meeting_the_Union_Minister_for_Railways%2c_Shri_Suresh_Prabhakar_Prabhu%2c_in_New_Delhi_on_March_22%2c_2016.jpg)
On 2 April 2009, thePatna High Court rejected Yadav's plea to be allowed to contest the2009 Indian parliamentary elections because he had been convicted of murder. On 11 April, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav expelled Pappu Yadav from the party. His mother Shanti Priya fought elections in his place, she lost toUday Singh ofBharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
During2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, Pappu Yadav along with Anil Yadav and Rampravesh Rai were expelled from the RJD for alleged anti-party activity. They were charged with working against the party's official nominee forFatuha Assembly constituency, Ramanand Yadav.
Yadav was acquitted of murder and subsequently fought in the2014 general elections.
Pappu Yadav defeated JD(U)'SSharad Yadav and become an MP for the fifth time.[12] His wife, Ranjeet Ranjan was also elected from Supaul from Congress. Pappu Yadav became one of the 'best performing' MPs from Bihar in 2015 for his attendance and participation in debates.[13]
On 7 May 2015, the RJD expelled him due to anti-party activities, after which he founded a new partyJan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik).[14]
Pappu Yadav floated the new party just before the2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election.[15][16][17][18][19] He campaigned against theNitish-Lalu alliance.[20] His party fought on 64 seats as part of Socialist Secular Morcha to form a third front in but failed to win any seats in the16th Bihar Assembly.[21]
Pappu Yadav suffered a defeat in2019 when he contested from his own party from Madhepura constituency but came third behindDinesh Chandra Yadav andSharad Yadav. His wife lost her seat toDileshwar Kamait after contesting from Congress.[22]
In September 2020, prior to theBihar Assembly elections, Yadav floated a new alliance called People Democratic Alliance which contained parties likeBahujan Mukti Party andSocial Democratic Party of India,Indian Union Muslim League along withAzad Samaj Party, the party ofDalit activist and president ofBhim Army,Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan.[23]
Pappu Yadav, who contested the Purnia Lok Sabha seat in Bihar as an independent candidate, won the seat by a margin of over 23,000 votes. He defeated JDU candidate Santosh Kushwaha and RJD candidateBima Bharti.[24][25]
Pappu Yadav was elected as MP, four times from the Purnia and twice from Madhepura constituency.
| From | To | Position | Constituency | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1991 | MLA (1st term) | Singheshwar | Independent |
| 1991 | 1996 | MP (1st term) in10th Lok Sabha (by-poll) | Purnia | Independent |
| 1996 | 1998 | MP (2nd term) in11th Lok Sabha | Purnia | SP |
| 1999 | 2004 | MP (3rd term) in13th Lok Sabha | Purnia | Independent |
| 2004 | 2009 | MP (4th term) in14th Lok Sabha (by-poll) | Madhepura | RJD |
| 2014 | 2019 | MP (5th term) in16th Lok Sabha | Madhepura | RJD |
| 2024 | 2029 | MP (6th term) in18th Lok Sabha | Purnia | Independent |
Yadav was allegedly involved in aiding Kim Davy, the prime accused in thePurulia arms drop case, in evading Indian authorities in 1995 during his tenure as an independent MP.[26]
In 2008, Pappu Yadav was convicted by a special court inAjit Sarkar murder case of 1998 and sentenced to life imprisonment.[11] He was involved in various controversies while in imprisonment, like holding audiences and having unrestricted access to cellphones. He was acquitted in 2013 by the Patna High Court.Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an appeal challenging his arrest in theSupreme Court.[27][28]
In his autobiographyDrohkaal ka Pathik, released in November 2013, Pappu Yadav has alleged that three MPs ofIndian Federal Democratic Party got money from the thenfinance ministerYashwant Sinha, to join theNDA in 2001. He has also claimed that during theJuly 2008 trust vote, both the Congress and BJP had offered "Rs 40 crore each" to MPs for their support.[29]
In 2015 he was once again in controversy after being reported to have allegedly threatened to hit aJet Airways airhostess with slippers.[30]
In June 2020, Pappu Yadav and his supporters defaced advertisements and billboards of Chinese companies on the streets of Patna, after theGalwan clash.[31]
In May 2021, Pappu Yadav was arrested in a 32 year old kidnapping case and for floutingCOVID-19 norms. Pappu Yadav has alleged political vendetta as he was raising questions against government expenditures in ambulance management during COVID-19.[32]
As per 2019 electionaffidavit, Pappu Yadav has 31 pending cases against him.[33] This number shot up to 41 in 2024.
On 12 April 2023, he was convicted under Section 147 and 353 of theIndian Penal Code (IPC) a special MP/MLA court inPatna. On 24 November 2023, he was convicted under IPC Section 414 by the same court. Yadav has filed an appeal for both the cases.[34]
