Fatmi quits RJD, alleges Tejashwi was rough and rude to him

Senior RJD leader Mohd Ali Ashraf Fatmi on Wednesday resigned from the primary membership of the party alleging that he was hurt by the rough and rude manner in which Tejashwi Yadav reacted to his desire to contest elections from Madhubani Lok Sabha seat.

Fatmi made the move a day after he resigned from all posts he held in the RJD, including in its parliamentary board, and said he would wait till April 18 for the partys decision on the seat from where the 'Mahagathbandhan's' fledgling outfit Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) has fielded its candidate.

"Tejashwi spoke to me on Tuesday and told me that I was being suspended from the party for a period of six years. He was so rough and rude ... I was appalled. My political career began before he was born, Fatmi told PTI over phone.

"I have, therefore, decided to quit the party and have vowed never to return. I will file my nomination papers from Madhubani on Thursday," the former Darbhanga MP, whose son is currently an RJD MLA, said.

Asked about reports that he would contest on the ticket of Mayawatis BSP, Fatmi replied "At present I can say only this much I will be contesting as a candidate of a national party. And BSP is a national party".

Fatmi said RJD supremo Lalu Prasads elder son Tej Pratap Yadav has been openly revolting against the party. He has floated a parallel outfit Lalu Rabri Morcha and has declared candidates for a few seats, even on seats which the RJD is contesting. "Why no action has been taken against him. The party has become a family property".

Fatmi had been sore over the candidature of Abdul Bari Siddiqui from Darbhanga a seat he has represented four times and which he lost five years ago by a small margin.

He had been hopeful that RJD would compensate by fielding him from Madhubani but was miffed when the seat was allotted to VIP, founded barely six months ago by former Bollywood set designer Mukesh Sahni.

With Fatmi entering the fray, the contest in Madhubani is likely to become a four-cornered one. The BJP has replaced its sitting MP Hukumdeo Narayan Yadav with his son Ashok Yadav. VIP has fielded a former RJD man Badrinath Purve.

Besides, veteran Congress leader Mohd Shakil Ahmed has filed two sets of nomination papers a day ago, saying he would contest as an Independent if the party leadership did not allot him the symbol by April 18.

A section of the Bihar Congress, which has been feeling shortchanged over getting fewer seats than expected and having been made to forgo some constituencies of its choice, have indicated that Ahmeds request for a friendly fight was unlikely to be accepted by the high command since similar pleas have been made by many others in the party.