Jan Adhikar Party leader Pappu Yadav joins Congress, merges his party

NEW DELHI: Jan Adhikar Party leader Pappu Yadav on Wednesday joined Congress and merged his party formally with the grand old party at AICC headquarters in New Delhi.

"The honour that the entire Congress family has given is enough for us. Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have given us a lot of love", Yadav said.

Appreciating Rahul Gandhi for raising the issue of caste census, Yadav said, "The honour that the entire Congress family has given is enough for us. Both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra have given us a lot of love.

"If anyone has won the hearts of people in India, it is Rahul Gandhi and people love him. He has also raised the concerns of OBCs by raising the issue of holding a caste census," he added.

It comes a day after the Bihar leader called on RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav fueling suspicion about a realignment with the party that fielded him from Madhepura in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Yadav's wife Ranjeet Ranjan is a Rajya Sabha member from Congress.

He is expected to contest parliamentary election on Congress’s ticket from Purnea in Bihar.

Dismissing these speculations, Yadav had maintained that the RJD President share "family relations" and have a shared "ideological stance against BJP".

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Lok Sabha elections in Bihar would be conducted in 7 phases, the Election Commission of India announced on Saturday. First phase of polling would be held on April 19, followed by April 26, May 7, May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1.

With 40 Lok Sabha constituencies, fourth highest among all states and union territories, Bihar holds crucial position in shaping Indian politics.