In a bid to reclaim the Saran Lok Sabha seat, once held by her father, Rohini Acharya, daughter of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, faces competition from a namesake of her father. Laloo Prasad Yadav, a local farmer from Bihar’s Saran district, known for his penchant for contesting elections, has thrown his hat into the ring as a candidate of the Rashtriya Jansambhavna Party (RJP) for the Saran Lok Sabha seat. He submitted his nomination papers on April 26.
Laloo Prasad Yadav’s history includes previous bids for higher office, such as filing nominations for the 2022 Presidential polls and the 2017 Presidential polls, where his papers were rejected due to insufficient endorsement. Speaking to PTI over the phone, Laloo Prasad Yadav expressed confidence in his electoral prospects, citing his longstanding engagement in agriculture, social work, and his recurrent participation in electoral contests.
“I have been contesting Lok Sabha polls from Saran constituency for the last several terms. I had contested against former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi as well. This time, I am contesting against her daughter Rohini Acharya,” Yadav stated, further expressing optimism about securing victory.
In response to criticism labeling him as ‘dharti pakad’ (one who clings on to the earth) and ‘vote katwa’ (one who divides votes), Yadav remained unfazed, asserting his commitment to representing the people of Saran.
“I don’t care about all these labels. They are my opponents and they will say such things. I contest polls only for the sake of my electorate in Saran,” Yadav remarked.
According to the affidavit filed by the RJP candidate, Yadav’s financial assets include Rs 5 lakh cash in hand, with his wife possessing Rs 2 lakh cash. He also owns movable assets worth Rs 17.60 lakh, while his wife’s movable assets amount to Rs 5.20 lakh.
The upcoming electoral contest in Saran Lok Sabha constituency promises to be an intriguing one, with the battle lines drawn between political legacies and grassroots activism.
