Congress’s Ranjeet fights a lonely battle in Supaul constituency

SUPAUL: Congress’s Ranjeet Ranjan, wife of Madhepura MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, has been fighting a lonely battle in Supaul parliamentary constituency as the local functionaries of RJD, a key ally of Mahagathbandhan, are yet to accept her candidature.
The RJD has virtually distanced itself from campaigning for Ranjeet, the sitting MP from Supaul. Even party president Lalu Prasad’s younger son and leader of opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav has not addressed any rally for the Congress candidate in Supaul, which will go to the polls in the third phase of on April 23.Tejashwi did not even attend Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s rally at Supaul’s Gandhi Maidan on Saturday. Ranjit is pitted against Dileshwar Kamat of the JD(U).
TOI joined the cavalcade of Ranjeet the other day as she appealed to the people to give her another opportunity to serve them better.
“Hamare haath ko majboot kariye, hum aapki baat ko Delhi ke sadan me majboot karenge (You strengthen our hand (symbol of Congress) and we will raise your voice strongly in the Parliament),” Ranjeet said at a public meet at Maheshpur village in Pipra block.
A large group of women from the village turned up to hear Ranjeet, who was wearing a magenta sari. She lashed out at CM Nitish Kumar for “misleading” the woman by playing prohibition card.
“Nitish Babu said he implemented prohibition for betterment of women. But isn’t home delivery of liquor at an exorbitant price a reality in state? The money which was earlier going to the state exchequer is now going to the pockets of Nitish and his officials,” she alleged.
She appealed to the villagers to throw out PM Narendra Modi from Delhi and send him to Gujarat.
After finishing her speech, she met the women folks of the village, greeted them and took blessing from the elderly.
She then say her in an SUV, which had images of senior functionaries of all Mahagathbandhan allies – Congress, RJD, RLSP, HAM (S) and VIP.
On way to Lakshminia village, around 5km from Maheshpur, Ranjeet said she has been holding 20-25 public meetings per day from 6am to 10pm.
“I visit my constituency at least thrice a month round the year to meet people. I enquire from people about their well-being and provide them whatever help they need, including making arrangements for treatment of the poor at AIIMS-Delhi,” she told TOI.
Subhash Prasad Yadav of Maheshpur panchayat, however, said Ranjeet seldom visited the village.
Asked about lack of support from RJD, Ranjeet said, “It does not affect the voters. They are aware of what exactly is going on and they are standing with me as I am their daughter.”
RJD’s Pipra MLA Yaduvansh Yadav has announced his support for an independent candidate, Dinesh Yadav, leaving Congress red-faced. “The defeat of Ranjeet is the victory of RJD,” Yaduvansh said. “We don’t have differences with Congress but with Ranjeet,” Yaduvansh added.
Ranjeet, however, said such functionaries of alliance partners who are creating problems for her would be dealt with after elections.
Asked about the work she has done in her constituency, Ranjeet said, “Around 25 bridges have been constructed and many roads in flood-prone areas in Supaul repaired in the last five years. A central school has also been opened. I have fulfilled my commitments as an MP with utmost responsibility and people of this constituency know it very well.”
As her convoy reached Lakshmania, Ranjeet offered prayers at a Kali temple surrounded by women. She then addressed another public meeting attended by a large number of women and raised the issue of Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal. “It was me who raised the matter in the Lok Sabha, after which the case was referred to CBI. I will continue to stand for security and rights of every woman,” she said.