Rabri Devi to take on BJP's Rudy in Saran

Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi will face Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajiv Pratap Rudy, in the Saran Lok Sabha constituency after the saffron party formally announced his candidature.

Ending speculation that Rudy was not keen to contest from Saran against Rabri, wife of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad, and was likely to contest from the Darjeeling seat in West Bengal, BJP leaders said that Rudy was ready to take on Rabri.

“I am ready to hit the roads, streets and villages and am confidant of defeating my rivals,” Rudy, a former union civil aviation minister told rediff.com.

Rabri Devi will contest her first Lok Sabha polls from Saran where Lalu Prasad won in 2009 but had to quit after his conviction in the multi-crore fodder scam last year.

Rudy was defeated from Saran in the last two Lok Sabha polls by Lalu.

Saran seat is considered Lalu’s stronghold due to the strong presence of Yadavs. But Rudy is eyeing the support of the Rajputs, the Dalits and other backward castes.

Rabri Devi, who has served three terms as Bihar chief minister has already started campaigning.

Image: Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi