Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been elected as the president of Janata Dal (United) in the party’s national executive meeting here today. Kumar has been installed as president in place of Lallan Singh. Kumar was lauded for his contribution in uniting the opposition parties under the ‘India’ alliance and taking forward the demand for a caste census. The party asked the major parties in the ‘India’ alliance to “show big heart” to make the alliance a success. During a closed-door meeting of the executive, Lallan Singh proposed Kumar’s name as the new president. Singh said that now that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are on the horizon, Kumar’s capable leadership is needed on such occasions. Singh, who currently represents the Munger Lok Sabha constituency, said he would relinquish the responsibility of president and focus on his election activities.
Sources said that during the executive meeting, most of the senior leaders believed that Kumar is the key leader to hold the party president’s responsibility on this important occasion. JDU is also a part of ‘India’ alliance. Sources said that many leaders had also raised questions about Lallan Singh’s working style during recent meetings with Kumar. However, amid reports of rift in the party, the Chief Minister tried to convey the message that everything is fine in the party by standing Lallan Singh with him. However, sources in the party dismissed the reports that Lallan Singh has been removed from the post of president due to his closeness with RJD. During the executive meeting, Kumar said that he was not in the mood to personally take the responsibility of the party president, but he was bound to accept the decision taken by the members of the national executive. When Kumar was re-elected as the JDU president, many party workers raised loud slogans and tried to present Kumar as the prime ministerial candidate. The executive also condemned the suspension of 146 opposition members from Parliament during the winter session. However, during the meeting, Kumar said that he will ensure that senior party members are given different roles. Earlier, Lallan Singh dismissed reports of any kind of rift in the party after he was removed from the post of JDU president. “You are trying to set up a narrative… JD(U) is united and always will be,” Kumar had said while taking a flight from Patna to Delhi. (media workers) will consult Sadanga on what should be written in the resignation letter…so that you can go to the BJP office and get the draft.”
