New Delhi: The Janata Dal (United) on Friday elected Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar as president of the party once again at its national executive meeting to mark the change of guard ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha poll challenge.
The change comes after a spate of denials and rebuttals by party leaders, particularly the outgoing president Rajeev Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh.
The move is seen as a step to project Mr Kumar as a prominent face ahead of the 2024 elections, besides giving him a bigger say in deciding crucial issues like seat-sharing with the INDIA bloc allies. Mr Kumar also needs greater control over the party ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
It is learnt that Mr Singh stepped down at the closed-door meeting and proposed Mr Kumar’s name, saying that his leadership will be needed at this crucial juncture in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, while he will be busy fighting his own election. He currently represents Munger in the Lok Sabha.
Sources said Mr Kumar accepted Mr Singh’s resignation and said he will ensure that senior members of the party are given different roles.
During the meeting, held at New Delhi’s Constitution Club, the party lauded Mr Kumar’s role in bringing together the Opposition parties and spearheading the demand for a caste census.
At the same time, Mr Singh’s leadership style was criticised by some leaders within the party in their recent interactions with Mr Kumar, sources said.
However, sources within the party have been dismissive of reports that Mr Singh’s perceived proximity to the RJD was a reason behind his ouster, noting that he has been a close ally of Mr Kumar for decades.
Amid reports of rift within the party, the chief minister has worked to project a picture of unity. The Bihar CM said at the executive meeting that he was not personally keen to take over as the party’s president but will abide by the decision of the national executive members.
Many enthusiastic members of the party raised slogans like “Desh ka Pradhan Mantri kaisa ho? Nitish Kumar jaisa ho” at the venue, projecting their leader as the prime ministerial candidate of the Opposition alliance.
Among several issues discussed at the meeting was Mr Kumar’s move to get a caste survey done in Bihar, leading to the state government enhancing reservations in the state from the existing 60 per cent to 75 per cent.
