JD(U) Leadership Carousel: Nitish Kumar Takes the Helm Again Amidst Shifting Political Tides

New Delhi: In a surprise turn of events, Rajeev Ranjan, also known as Lalan Singh, on Friday resigned from the post of Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] president, giving way to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The path was paved for him to assume the post. The role of the party leadership ahead of the impending Lok Sabha elections. The move reflects a recurring theme in the party’s history, where most of its presidents have faced sudden exits.

JDU was formed in October 2003 by the merger of Sharad Yadav’s faction Janata Dal (U), Lok Shakti Party and Samata Party. Notably, the party’s founding president, George Fernandes, was the first to step down in 2006, making way for the Nitish-backed Sharad. Fernandes lost his influence in the party and had to shift to his old Lok Sabha seat in Muzaffarpur during 2004. Election.

Recently, bureaucrat-turned-politician and close confidant of Nitish RCP Singh faced a similar fate in July 2021, just 18 months after becoming the national president. Singh’s decision to join the Narendra Modi cabinet angered Nitish, leading to his resignation.

Lalan Singh, considered Nitish’s “alter ego”, resigned after serving as the president since July 2021. While the party claims it was a voluntary decision, analysts believe Nitish’s intervention is aimed at addressing key challenges – the shift of upper caste votes to the BJP and OBC/Dalit votes in favor of the RJD. They argue that Nitish’s return is a strategic move to curb dissent, strengthen the party’s base and deal with the complex political scenario as the Lok Sabha elections approach.

As Nitish assumes power for the fourth time, political analysts expect the focus to be on strategic bargaining for seats and social engineering to reshape the party’s trajectory.

 Nitish Kumar’s return to the post of JD(U) president comes against the backdrop of complex political challenges, marking a crucial moment for the future of the party.