Ramkripal, once known as the crisis manager of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, on Tuesday, met BJP national president Rajnath Singh and party's senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad at Delhi airport. Prasad confirmed that the Rajya Sabha member would join the BJP on Wednesday. He, however, said the decision about Pataliputra ticket would be taken by the BJP's central election committee.
The RJD MP did not reveal what transpired in the talks with BJP leaders and said he would comment on the developments only on Wednesday. "I had a good meeting with Rajnathji in Delhi today. I will comment on the issues tomorrow," he told mediapersons in Delhi when asked about his strategy and whether he was being given the BJP ticket from Pataliputra seat.
Sources said LJP president Ram Vilas Paswan, who recently joined hands with BJP in Bihar, played vital role in arranging the rebel RJD leader's meeting with BJP seniors. Paswan reportedly offered to exchange one of the seven seats, the LJP has got from the BJP in alliance, with Pataliputra and field Ramkripal as LJP candidate, if the saffron party had any issue.
BJP sources said the only obstacle for Ramkripal in getting BJP ticket from Pataliputra is that Yoga guru Ramdev has sought the party symbol for one of his disciples, Nawal Kishore Yadav, from the same constituency. "But it is a minor issue. It will be sorted out by the party's central leadership," said a state BJP leader.
Reacting to Ramkripal's move, Lalu said, "Kuchh lalchi log (some greedy persons) are hankering after becoming MP and PM while he (Lalu) is fighting the communal forces."
Lalu's wife and former CM Rabri Devi said Ramkripal's leaving RJD would not affect the party. Misa, who always calls Ramkripal 'uncle', said, "I have closed all political relations with Ramkripal uncle, but family relation will continue as usual. It will be a fight between two ideologies and not between uncle and niece in Pataliputra."
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