Patna, March 21: The RJD's Madhepura MP, Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, once again batted for a tie-up with Jitan Ram Manjhi.

Addressing reporters here, Pappu said: 'RJD chief Lalu Prasad should consider taking Manjhi along in the next Assembly poll. Otherwise, it will harm the party. I have written to him and am ready to meet him on this.' Asked if Lalu should end the alliance with JDU, he said it was up to Lalu.

Pappu even urged Manjhi to be with the UPA and said his removal as chief minister was unhealthy for the UPA.

On education minister P.K. Shahi's remark that it was 'impossible to hold fair examinations without co-operation of parents' (vis-a-vis mass copying during matriculation), Pappu said: 'The statement has tarnished Bihar's image. It is not the fault of students and parents but that of the state's education system. It has collapsed. The quality of teachers is poor. Students are left with no option than to cheat.'

Pappu said the Bihar School Examination Board should be run on the CBSE pattern and urged chief minister Nitish Kumar and the high court to relieve teachers from works other than teaching.

The RJD MP announced a series of rallies over land acquisition bill, plight of farmers, practice of donations in medical colleges and alcohol prohibition. Rallies are being organised in Hajipur (April 3), Araria (April 4), Khagaria (April 5), Katihar (April 7), Bikram (April 12), Arwal (April 13), Aurangabad (April 14) and Koel (April 15). 'On April 15, I'll set out on a padyatra from Aurangabad and reach Gaya on April 18,' he said. The padyatra would culminate in a rally at Patna's Gandhi Maidan in the first week of September.

Pappu also demanded free power to farmers who have less than five acres of land.