Patna, May 18: Madhavi Sarkar, widow of slain CPM MLA Ajit Sarkar, today alleged “foul play” in the acquittal of Pappu Yadav, saying she suspected a collusion between the CBI, Congress and the JD(U) in Bihar.
Madhavi, also a CPM leader, alleged that keeping the Congress-JD(U)’s political interest in consideration, the CBI might not have effectively stitched together its case, leading Patna High Court to give the “benefit of doubt” to Pappu and two other accused in her husband’s 1998 killing.
The CBI is still considering whether to file an appeal against the high court order.
Madhavi’s angst stems from the recent churning in state politics given the growing proximity between the JD(U) and the Congress.
Sources said the JD(U) could turn to Pappu to settle scores with the BJP’s powerful MP from Purnea, Udai Singh.
Udai Singh, the brother of JD(U) MP N.K. Singh, has been a vocal opponent of Nitish. On September 30 last year, Udai had organised a vedana (anguish) rally pillorying the chief minister when he was on his Adhikar Yatra.
Informed sources said the Nitish camp was looking for an opportune moment to strike back at Udai and this is where Pappu comes in handy.
“If anyone is capable of taking on Udai Singh in Purnea, it is Pappu Yadav,” said a source.
The clout of Pappu in the Seemanchal (bordering) and Kosi region is evident from the fact that he thrice represented Purnea in the Lok Sabha — 1991, 1996 and 1999 — and Madhepura in 2004.
Earlier, he was the MLA from Singheshwar.
As of now, Pappu is close to the Congress since his wife and former Saharsa MP Ranjit Ranjan is with the party.
The whispers about a Congress-JD(U) entente strengthened following the Congress’s decision to pick Jitendra Swami, a man with criminal antecedents who was not a party member till he got the election ticket, as its candidate for the June 2 Maharajganj Lok Sabha bypoll. Swami could damage the prospects of Prabhunath Singh, the RJD candidate pitted against the JD(U)’s P.K. Shahi.
The Congress has welcomed Pappu’s acquittal. “He (Pappu) has been acquitted by the court of law which should not be questioned. We welcome his acquittal and condemn those raising a finger at the court’s verdict,” said senior Congress spokesman Premchand Mishra.
