Video: Pappu Yadav, Kanhaiya Kumar Denied Stage Access During Mahagathbandhan’s Bihar Bandh Protest

Independent MP Pappu Yadav and Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar found themselves in an embarrassing situation after being stopped from boarding the stage during the Mahagathbandhan’s Bihar Bandh protest in Patna. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav were already on the stage, which was set up on a vehicle. A video of the incident has surfaced online, showing security personnel stopping Kanhaiya Kumar and Pappu Yadav from joining them. However, several other Mahagathbandhan leaders were allowed to share the stage with Rahul and Tejashwi.

The Opposition alliance, Mahagathbandhan, has called for a Bihar Bandh on Thursday to protest against the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections. Rahul Gandhi arrived in Patna on Wednesday to participate in the protest. During the demonstration, he and Tejashwi Yadav boarded an open truck that served as the stage, with several other Mahagathbandhan leaders also present.

According to reports, when Pappu Yadav attempted to climb onto the stage, security personnel intervened and stopped him. Due to the heavy crowd, pushing and shoving broke out. Kanhaiya Kumar, who was with Pappu Yadav, also failed to secure a spot on the vehicle. Eventually, both leaders retreated from the scene.

Kanhaiya Kumar had briefly managed to climb onto the truck but was asked to step down, according to reports. Kanhaiya had been brought into Bihar politics to strengthen the Congress ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. In March, he launched the "Give Jobs, Stop Migration" campaign, which reportedly caused discomfort within the Mahagathbandhan, particularly for Tejashwi Yadav’s RJD.

Meanwhile, Pappu Yadav, despite distancing himself from the Congress, has described himself as a "true soldier of Rahul Gandhi." During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he sought a Congress ticket from Purnia but was overruled by Tejashwi Yadav’s insistence. Consequently, the RJD fielded Bima Bharti instead, prompting Pappu Yadav to contest—and win—as an independent candidate against her. Once close to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, Pappu Yadav’s relationship with the family has since deteriorated.