Pappu Yadav, Kanhaiya Kumar Snubbed At Patna Protest? Blocked From Rahul Gandhi’s Vehicle, MP Reacts: WATCH

During an INDIA bloc protest in Patna against electoral roll revisions, MP Pappu Yadav and Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar were blocked from joining senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi on a vehicle.

Independent MP Pappu Yadav and Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar were denied entry into a protest vehicle during the Mahagathbandhan’s demonstration against the revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar on Wednesday. The incident unfolded during a high-profile rally led by INDIA bloc leaders in Patna, sparking reactions from the ruling JDU-led alliance.

The protest march, organised under the banner of the INDIA bloc, saw senior leaders such as RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi address the crowd. Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was accompanied by several other leaders including CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) chief Mukesh Sahani.

During the demonstration, which began on foot from the Income Tax roundabout to the Election Commission office in Patna, the large turnout prompted a switch to an open vehicle. However, as Kanhaiya Kumar and Pappu Yadav approached the van, they were stopped by security personnel assigned to protect Rahul Gandhi and other top leaders.

Visuals from the scene, now widely circulated on social media, show Pappu Yadav attempting to board the vehicle with assistance before being blocked. Kanhaiya Kumar too was prevented from climbing aboard, even as others were seen allowed entry. The reasons for the denial remain unclear.

Ruling Alliance Slams Congress over Treatment of Allies, Pappu Yadav Reacts

The Nitish Kumar-led JDU, which governs Bihar, criticised the INDIA bloc over the incident. The alliance accused the Congress of sidelining key figures within its own fold.

JDU leaders cited the treatment of Kumar and Yadav as reflective of the Congress’s hierarchical mindset. “The incident indicates that leaders like Kumar and Yadav are not treated well by the Congress and its senior members like Gandhi,” the ruling party claimed, as per NDTV.

Reacting to these remarks, Yadav denied any insult as he told IANS, "We were not allowed to get on the vehicle; everyone inside was from Congress. This is a fight for the Constitution, a fight for the rights of 140 crore people, a fight for status, and a fight for minorities. It's a fight for my life, for my community..."

Kanhaiya Kumar, originally from Bihar, had contested last year’s Lok Sabha election from North East Delhi on a Congress ticket but lost to BJP’s Manoj Tiwari. His presence at the rally was seen as significant due to his local connect and political relevance within the Congress.

Pappu Yadav, also known as Rajesh Ranjan, had earlier merged his Jan Adhikar Party with the Congress before the 2024 general elections. However, after seat-sharing talks allocated the Purnia seat to the RJD, he contested independently and secured a win. His wife, Ranjeet Ranjan, continues to serve as a Rajya Sabha MP representing the Congress.

The INDIA bloc’s protest was organised against the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, a move the alliance claims could influence electoral outcomes ahead of the state polls.