The Rashtriya Janata Dal suffered a major jolt on Tuesday ahead of the assembly election in Bihar, which begins on Thursday.
The party's incarcerated Lok Sabha member of Parliament Rajesh Ranjan, alias Pappu Yadav, resigned from the membership of its parliamentary board protesting against the 'denial' of tickets to candidates of his choice.
Surendra Prasad Yadav, representative of Pappu Yadav who is currently lodged in the Beur jail in connection with the Communist Party of India [Marxist] member of Legislative Assembly Ajit Sarkar's murder case, confirmed that Pappu Yadav had sent his resignation letter to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Yadav claimed the MP was incensed over the alleged 'high handedness' of the RJD boss during ticket distribution, ignoring claims of 'genuine' party workers.
"MP saheb has also made up his mind to resign from the RJD and his Lok Sabha membership," he said and charged Lalu Prasad Yadav with 'committing gross irregularities in the distribution of tickets'.
Enraged over the alleged denial of tickets to candidates of Pappu's choice in his stronghold areas of Madhepura, Purnea and Saharsa, his supporters have pledged to work for the defeat of RJD's official nominees in these districts, he said.
Pappu's supporters have also entered the fray as Independents against RJD nominees in several constituencies.