"Congress never accepted me in Bihar," says Pappu Yadav

New Delhi [India], July 21 : Stating "madly in love with Rahul Ji, Sonia Ji," Independent MP Pappu Yadav said as he is "waiting" for Congress to make a move before the Bihar Assembly polls later this year as he feels that the party has "never accepted him."
Notably, Yadav had won the last Lok Sabha polls from Bihar' Purnea as an Independent candidate after the Congress denied him the ticket and gave the seat to its alliance partner RJD.
Speaking exclusively with ANI, Pappu Yadav, who has a stronghold on Seemanchal region, emphasised that Congress needs a strong leadership in Bihar.
"Congress need a strong leadership. Congress has never accepted me in Bihar till today." Pappu Yadav told ANI.
When asked why Congress has not accepted him, Pappu Yadav said, "That is only they know. They (Congress) are the kings."
However,he said, "I am waiting for them (Congress). I am madly in love with Rahul Ji, Sonia Ji."
Yadav told ANI that he feels that there are two reasons for his independent struggle into the Bihar politics.
"I have been kicked a lot in politics. My two crimes, as I see them. The first is that I was born 30 years later than Ram Vilas Paswan Ji, Nitish Kumar Ji, and Lalu Yadav. The biggest problem is that I won't speak lie. In truth, even if I compromise, I would do 20-30 per cent. My personality does not match with big parties," Pappu Yadav said.
Partially blaming RJD chief Lalu Yadav, the Purnea MP said, "The problem for me is that Lalu Yadav ji is in the alliance. I don't know what problem he has with me, even though I have always respected him. I always stood by him. What does he want? I do not know."
On being asked whether Lalu Yadav holds influence on Rahul Gandhi in Bihar, Pappu Yadav said, "I believe Rahul Gandhi ji listens to everyone but does what he wants."
Speaking about him being stopped from onboarding the van during the Bihar Bandh rally on June 9, Pappu Yadav dismissed the claims of being deliberately snubbed. He said, "The public pushed me to go on the stage and I fell while stepping onto it."
Pappu Yadav along with Congress leader and National Students' Union of India (NSUI) national incharge Kanhaiya Kumar on July 9 were snubbed by security from boarding a van during the Mahagathbandhan protest against electoral roll revision in poll-bound Bihar.
The incident occurred when both leaders attempted to board the van carrying Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, but were stopped by security guards.
He also added, "I will not share the stage in this life with the Yuvraj of any party who is arrogant." When asked to clarify who he referred to as "Yuvraj", Yadav responded, "Whosoever has the backup of family background and is arrogant about it. Whosoever takes forward their political career with father's legacy... any party leader who doesn't know about the struggle."
Bihar Assembly elections are expected to be held later this year in October or November; however, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has not announced an official date.