Bihar elections: Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Voter Adhikar Rally’ builds traction, brings together adversaries  

The issue between Pappu and Tejashwi The key source of tension between Pappu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav arose during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections over the Purnia constituency seat.  In March 2024, Pappu Yadav, a prominent five-time MP from Bihar, merged his Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) with the Congress. As part of the multi-party INDIA alliance, he expected to contest the Lok Sabha elections from his stronghold of Purnia on a Congress ticket. However, in the seat-sharing agreement, the Purnia constituency was given to the RJD—a key ally in the Mahagathbandhan led by Tejashwi Yadav. The RJD fielded its candidate, Bima Bharti, from the seat. Denied the ticket, Pappu Yadav defied the alliance and contested the election as an Independent and won Purnia, defeating both the ruling JD(U) and the RJD’s candidate. Since the Lok Sabha election, the two leaders have made public gestures of reconciliation, although the political rivalry remains.