Patna: Janata Dal (United) national president Lalan Singh on Wednesday announced a 98-member new national executive of the party, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.
While Lalan Singh has been appointed president of the executive committee, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is only a member.
A notable omission from the list is the name of Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh from the national executive committee.
When asked, Lalan Singh said that he is under the influence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he cannot attend the executive committee meetings. Hence the party has not included his name in the list.
“Harivansh Ji has not come for any meeting of the party in the past. Hence, we knew that he would not come. Hence, the party has decided not to include his name in the national executive committee,” Lalan Singh said.
KC Tyagi has been made personal advisor and the national spokesperson while Alok Kumar Suman became treasurer and Ramnath Thakur was appointed general secretary.
The party holds 16 Members of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, all of whom hail from Bihar. Additionally, they have five MPs, including Harivansh, in the Rajya Sabha. Within the state cabinet, which boasts a membership of nearly 30, the party is represented by 12 ministers, besides the Chief Minister.
JD(U) was among the parties that boycotted the inauguration of the new building of the Parliament.
With agency inputs