Pappu Yadav writes to Lalu Prasad Yadav to induct Jitan Ram Manjhi in the RJD

PATNA: RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav today said he made a request to party President Lalu Prasad to induct former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi in RJD and declare him the Chief Ministerial nominee in the coming Assembly poll.

"I made the request to induct Manjhi in RJD and make him CM nominee from the party to Lalu Prasad in a letter to him," Pappu Yadav told reporters.

Yadav, who stood by Manjhi during his power tussle with Nitish Kumar despite Prasad siding with the latter, said "Going into poll without Manjhi would tantamount to loss to the party".

"Manjhi has become the voice of dalit and downtrodden hence going to poll without him will tantamount to loss for us," he said.

He said the RJD chief had himself described Manjhi as a "nice man."

Manjhi who went out after a showdown with mentor Nitish Kumar has been expelled from JD(U) and formed Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) along with other rebel JD(U) Legislators.

BJP had pledged vote to Manjhi in the floor test which ultimately did not happen as Manjhi tendered resignation earlier.

Before Pappu Yadav, senior RJD leader and former Union minister Raghubansh Prasad Singh had also spoken in favour of Manjhi and even mooted making him Deputy Chief Minister in the Nitish Kumar ministry.