Patna, June 4: Former MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav, following his acquittal in the murder of CPM MLA Ajit Sarkar case, is set to relaunch his political career through Aashirvaad Yatra from Thursday.

The yatra will travel across the Seemanchal region, his erstwhile political bastion. In his maiden press conference after release from jail, Pappu gave clear indication that he would also seek the blessings of the Congress — the party from which his wife and former MP Ranjeeta Ranjan had contested in the last Lok Sabha polls — for his political rehabilitation.

Congress spokesperson Premchandra Mishra, however, said: “Ranjeeta Ranjan is an active member of our party and contested the last Lok Sabha polls on our party ticket. In the last Assembly polls, we gave tickets to some persons on her recommendation. At present, there is no move to induct Pappu Yadav. If he approaches the party, a decision would be taken in accordance with the circumstances. We are, however, happy that he has been acquitted by the court.”

Interacting with the media at a city hotel, Yadav said: “I am going to launch Aashirvaad Yatra from June 6 to seek people’s blessings. The yatra will start from Purnea followed by Madhepura on June 8, Muzaffarpur on June 16 and Sitamarhi on June 17.” During the yatra, Pappu would stay and hold public meetings at different places. “It is my duty to take the blessings of the people and also to solve their problems which they are facing in the present regime. I believe that people are feeling cheated in every sector,” said Pappu.

He also alleged that people of Seemanchal region are being harassed and living in fear. “The present government has failed to do any development work in Seemanchal region. Districts like Purnea, Araria, Katihar, Bhagalpur and Kishanganj are not even touched in terms of development.”

When The Telegraph asked Pappu about his chances of contesting the next general election, he replied: “My wife Ranjeeta Ranjan is in the Congress and as far as contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha election is concerned, it is up to the party to take the final decision. But I want to make it very clear that the party is not important for me. It is the people of Seemanchal region who would decide.”

Asked about which seat in Seemanchal region he would like to contest from, Pappu said: “People will decide but I can contest from any seat, Purnea, Madhepura, Khagaria or Saharsa, depending on the people’s decision.”

He also admitted that to be in active politics, it was very important to join strong leadership. Pappu, however, said his main motive was to unite the people of Seemanchal against those leaders who are doing nothing for them.

Asked about any possibility of joining hands with Lalu or Nitish, without taking names, Pappu said: “I do not have any personal grudge against any of them. I will do whatever is best for my people and my supporters.”

Pappu, who is an LLB student of Magadh University, said his book Dhroh Kaal Ke Pathik would be released in July. “My book is set to release next month and I am also writing two other books based on the judicial system and my experiences in jail.”

The former MP said a film based on his life would be released next year. “Jail is not sudhaar grih (correctional home), where you have restriction on thoughts, opinion, heart and body. It is a bigaad grih (home for spoiling),” said Pappu.