Patna, Nov 9 (IANS): BJP MP from Patliputra constituency in Bihar, Ram Kripal Yadav, known as the disciple of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Sunday got a berth in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers.

People across the state describe him as the down to earth leader, who is ready to help them in crisis.

It was Lalu's love for his daughter, which forced his loyalist and dedicated leader Ram Kripal to join the BJP. He was shocked when Lalu Prasad named Misa Bharti as the party candidate from Patliputra. Ram Kripal wanted to contest from the seat.

After nearly three decades of association with Lalu Prasad, Ram Kripal joined the BJP in March 2014 and endorsed Narendra Modi as "the man India is looking up to". "I have been a dedicated worker of the RJD for years but was forced to take this step, it was painful but I had no choice," he then said.

It was Ram Kripal who offered his Lok Sabha seat to Lalu Prasad to contest the polls in 2009. But Lalu Prasad was defeated by JD-U leader Ranjan Prasad Yadav. Lalu Prasad later sent Ram Kripal to the Rajya Sabha in 2010.

RJD leaders recall that during Lalu Prasad's bad times after he ousted from power in the state, Ram Kripal remained his close friend.

"It is a fact that after Lalu's RJD was ousted from power, several of his colleagues deserted him to become ministers in the Nitish Kumar-led government, but Ram Kripal remained loyal to him and worked single-handedly for the party," a senior RJD leader, who did not want to be named, told IANS here.

The 56-year-old leader started his life as a shop owner and made his move slowly by entering politics at a urban body election to become the deputy mayor of Patna. He became a member of the Bihar legislative council in 1992, won a by-election to the Lok Sabha in 1993.