RJD general secretary Ramkripal Yadav quits?

PATNA: Angry over denial of ticket from Patliputra, RJD general secretary Ramkripal Yadav, a close aide of the party chief Lalu Prasad, is reported to have resigned from the party.

He is expected to join BJP and contest from the same constituency.

Ramkripal Yadav, who is a Rajya Sabha member, was not available to confirm his resignation, but sources close to him did not deny it.

Sources in BJP said that he was in touch with the party. The development followed RJD chief Lalu Prasad announcing his eldest daughter Misa Bharti to take on his friend-turned- foe Ranjan Prasad Yadav in the Patliputra seat in place of Ramkripal Yadav during the day.

Prasad himself had lost to Ranjan Yadav in the 2009 elections.

In a reply to a question about Ramkripal Yadav's resignation, Lalu Prasad told reporters he would inquire about the matter.

Another senior RJD leader and its leader in Legislative Council Gulam Gaus expressed annoyance over denial of ticket from West Champaran seat.

"Sincere workers particularly from the minority Muslim community have been ignored...I am adamant to contest Parliamentary polls from West Champaran even as Independent," he told PTI.