On July 9, in Bihar, the INDIA bloc led a Statewide ‘chakka jam’ protest against the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav spearheaded demonstrations, including road blockades and tyre-burning, citing voter disenfranchisement. During the rally, security blocked Pappu Yadav (the MP from Purnia constituency in Bihar) and Kanhaiya Kumar (Congress leader) from boarding Rahul Gandhi–Tejashwi Yadav’s protest vehicle during the INDIA bloc’s Bihar rally on July 9, triggering questions about internal alliance tensions
In the above context, a video of Pappu Yadav is being widely shared on social media in which he is giving an interview to a media person. During the video, he says, “What is his identity except that he is Lalu Yadav’s son. If today Lalu’s name is removed from his name, even the dog won’t ask for him. Will he even win the Mukhiya election if he is not the son of Lalu Yadav?” (Translated from Hindi)
The video is being shared with a caption suggesting that it shows Pappu Yadav speaking against the RJD leader after being blocked from Rahul Gandhi–Tejashwi Yadav’s protest vehicle.
A social media user shared the video and wrote, “If Lalu’s name is removed from Tejaswi’s name, even a dog will not ask, says Pappu Yadav. It seems Pappu Yadav has started to get some sense after getting a shock.” (Translated from Hindi)
SouthCheck found that the claim is misleading. The viral video is old and unrelated to the Opposition rally held in Bihar on July 9.
On closely observing the video, we found the logo of Live Cities in the top right corner.
Using the hint, we searched for the video on the YouTube channel of Live Cities and found that the same video was uploaded on October 16, 2020.
At around the 5:45-minute timestamp, we can see Pappu Yadav making the same statement as in the viral video. The video is shared with a caption that reads, “Bihar Elections: Pappu Yadav roared at Tejashwi, said, what is he other than Lalu Yadav’s son?” (Translated from Hindi)
What is the rift between Pappu Yadav and RJD?
Pappu Yadav was earlier in the RJD. However, in 2015, he was expelled for six years for his alleged ‘anti-party activities’. However, according to Pappu, he was expelled for questioning RJD chief Lalu Prasad for projecting his son as his ‘natural political heir’.
Following his expulsion, he went on to launch the Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik) later that month.
In 2024, Pappu Yadav joined the Congress and announced the merger of the Jan Adhikar Party.
