Sadhu Yadav, Rabri Devi

, Patna, March 26: Sadhu Yadav’s electoral challenge in Saran against Rabri Devi has come for severe criticism from Lalu Prasad and his family even as the BJP distanced itself from the controversy.

Rabri dubbed Sadhu, her brother, as “dushman” (enemy). “He is my dushman. There can be no compromise or sympathy for an enemy. The voters of Saran will teach him a lesson,” she told reporters today.

The RJD chief Lalu Prasad said: “We do not bother who is fighting from where. There will be no trace of such elements in poll at Saran. Nobody will ask about them.”

Tej Pratap, the eldest son of Lalu and Rabri, also chipped in by declaring that his mama (maternal uncle) was contesting in Saran to gain publicity. “He will end up last,” Tej Pratap said.

Sadhu, on the other hand, intensified his attack on his sister. “I have been in politics since the days she could make a mark in it,” he said, stressing that he would win from Saran while his sister would lose.

Announcement of Sadhu to enter into fray from Saran seat as an Independent came as a surprise. However, Lalu has already brushed aside the challenge thrown up by Sadhu, whom he once promoted in politics to make a powerful force during the Lalu-Rabri regime.

He declared that everybody was free to fight from any place he or she wants and stressed that “such elements” will have no meaning in the Lok Sabha election from Saran.

In private, the RJD leaders are accusing the BJP for propping up Sadhu in an aim to split the Yadav votes and pave the way for the victory of its candidate, Rajiv Pratap Rudi. However, former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi has denied his party’s role behind Sadhu’s decision to contest from Saran.

“Rabri could not control his own brother Sadhu Yadav from contesting against her & blaming BJP for his candidature,” Sushil Modi said in a tweet this afternoon.