Nitish Kumar takes helm as JDU chief; Lalan Singh steps down
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New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was chosen as the new president of the Janata Dal (United) during the party's executive meeting in Delhi. This is a significant political move as Rajiv Ranjan, well known as Lalan Singh, offered his resignation from the position. Following weeks of rumours and denials from JDU allies and leaders about possible leadership changes, the announcement was made today.
In his final speech, Lalan Singh stated that he was stepping down because he wanted to concentrate more and take part fully in the approaching elections. Then, he put out Nitish Kumar for the party's top post, and the latter was chosen in a matter of minutes, India Today reported.
JDU general secretary Ram Kumar Sharma said, "Lalan Singh first proposed his resignation and it was accepted. Simultaneously, the resolution was passed that Nitish Kumar would be the next president."
Many in the political community had been expecting this move as there had been reports floating about the JDU about a potential leader change. But party leaders had remained silent—some even opposing the idea—about a potential leadership change until the very last minute.
Tejashwi Yadav, the RJD leader and deputy chief minister for Bihar, also denied the allegations that Lalan Singh was resigning as party chief.
Following the leadership transition, Jitan Ram Manjhi, the former chief minister of Bihar, wasted no time in pokeing fun at Nitish Kumar. He said, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), "Under Nitish Kumar's three-year plan, Lalan Singh has also been wiped out. By the way, Lalan Babu should have understood that since Nitish Kumar did not consider [George] Fernandes, RCP [Singh], Sharad Yadav and Digvijaya Singh his own, why would he be any different? There is no one that Nitish hasn’t stabbed in the back.”
The elevation of Nitish Kumar to the JDU presidency represents a calculated move ahead of the pivotal Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Kumar's new post comes only days after the Opposition INDIA group met, giving him additional influence to broker coalitions and a Bihar seat-sharing arrangement. He is authorised to start talking about it with other alliance members due to the resolution that was approved at the national executive meeting.
As Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is being sponsored by Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal as a possible PM candidate, a number of JDU leaders are pushing for Nitish Kumar to head the INDIA group.