Patna, Aug. 13: Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav will exhibit his support base in Kosi and Seemanchal regions of Bihar during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's August 18 rally in Saharsa.

Pappu promised this to Modi during a meeting he had with him today, sources close to him said.

The meeting lasted over 40 minutes. Pappu, elected from Madhepura on an RJD ticket, was expelled from the party. Since his removal, he has been hobnobbing with NDA leaders in Bihar. Even though he is not officially in the NDA, it is an open secret that he would work against the JDU-RJD-Congress alliance and help the NDA.

Modi's third Parivartan rally is taking place in Pappu's stronghold of Saharsa. Pappu's proximity to the NDA was apparent last month when he met Union home minister Rajnath Singh on the morning of July 29 to demand security cover for himself. By evening that day, the Centre issued a letter to the state government, asking it to accord him Y-category security cover.

Speaking to The Telegraph over phone from New Delhi, Pappu denied politics was discussed with the Prime Minister. "My meeting with the PM was purely on development issues. I discussed issues related to the state and my constituency," Pappu said. But it is most unlikely politics was not discussed.

The NDA's Saharsa rally is crucial for the BJP and its allies after Nitish and Lalu formally announced a seat-sharing formula on Wednesday and the JDU launched a " shabdwapsi (take-back-your-words)" campaign over Modi's remark that Nitish's DNA was poor. The JDU has sold the remark as an insult to Bihari pride.

In this scenario, it helps to bank on Pappu who could help the BJP showcase its strength in, at least, the Kosi-Seemanchal region. A senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity: "Pappu holds the potential to damage the prospects of any political party in the Kosi-Seemanchal region. Also, without his support it is not possible to pull crowds. So, it becomes important for the NDA to rope in his support. Though he will not be visible on stage, his influence would surely be visible."

"Another reason Pappu was roped in is the RJD-JDU and Congress' joint rally on August 30, where the latter would try and give their best. So, before the JDU-RJD rally in Patna on August 30 and the NDA's other rally in Bhagalpur the same day, the NDA wants to showcase its strength in Saharsa," he said, adding that Pappu's importance in the region could not be ruled out.

Pappu, the Jan Adhikar Party's national convener had sought an appointment with the Prime Minister around two days ago and was invited to meet him today.