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  • ‘All options open, including joining BJP’: RCP Singh amid verbal volleys between saffron party, Grand Alliance

    By PTI

    PATNA: Former JD(U) national president RCP Singh, who was in the eye of a political storm in Bihar, on Thursday said he was keeping “all options open”, including a formal entry into the BJP.

    The former Union minister also lashed out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the latest political u-turn that saw the de facto JD(U) leader dumping the BJP and realigning with the “Mahagathbandhan” of the RJD, Congress and the Left.

    “I have all options open”, said Singh and when pointedly asked whether he would like to join the BJP, he quipped “why not?” The bureaucrat turned politician, who had to give up his ministerial berth upon denial of another Rajya Sabha term by the JD(U), maintained that Kumar, the de facto leader of the party, “will not become the prime minister even if he were to be reborn seven times”.

    “These are not times of political instability in the country when Chandra Shekhar, H D Deve Gowda, I K Gujaral etc. could enjoy brief stints as PM,” said Singh.

    The JD(U) accused Singh of having become a mole of the saffron camp.

    He denied allegations of having acted against the JD(U)’s interests at BJP’s behest in the last assembly polls of 2020, and a few months later, having become a Union minister without consent of the Bihar CM.

    ALSO READ | Developments in Bihar positive sign for national politics: Akhilesh Yadav

    “Why was the alliance not called off immediately after assembly polls if there was sabotage (bhitarghaat)? Why did senior party leaders congratulate me if my becoming a minister was an act of defiance?”, asked Singh.

    He alleged that Kumar “had made up his mind to betray the mandate of 2020 when people had voted the NDA back to power. I am just being used as an alibi to justify yet another volte-face. I wonder how many times can he switch sides”.

    Meanwhile, the BJP on Thursday cited recent cases of heinous crimes in Bihar and alleged involvement of some of the state ministers in criminal cases to claim that criminals have become “fearless” after the grand alliance came to power.

    Former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad noted that two persons, a class 12 girl student and a solider, were shot in Patna, his Lok Sabha constituency, in the last 24 hours as he took a swipe at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    ALSO READ | Unease over cabinet portfolio choices in Bihar’s ‘Mahagathbandhan’ 

    These are no routine crimes and show how emboldened criminals have become in the state within days of the new government assuming office, he told reporters.

    If this is the situation in the state’s capital, one can well imagine where the state is heading, he said.

    “The state is returning to jungle raj,” he alleged.

    He also hit out at the government over the row over Bihar minister Kartikeya Singh’s suspected involvement in a kidnapping case and alleged the state’s agriculture minister was earlier linked to a rice scam.

    Singh’s lawyer has said the police investigation has found no evidence against him.

    Prasad refuted the claim and said the Patna High Court had in 2017 rejected the RJD leader’s plea for anticipatory bail by noting that the complaint’s statement highlights his role in the abduction.

    The court had asked him to surrender and to apply for regular bail, he said, accusing the police of trying to save him after the JD(U)-RJD-Congress formed the government.

    Kumar on Thursday dismissed allegations of “return of jungle raj” by the BJP and asserted that the controversy surrounding newly inducted minister and RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh was being “looked into” for suitable action.

    Asked about the BJP’s charge, he told reporters in Patna, “I will answer them at an appropriate time. They are speaking a lot. At this moment, I just need to assure people that the pace of development under the new dispensation will be greater than ever before.”

    Prasad said the police’s defence of Karikeya Singh has sent out the message to criminals that they can break the law and police will not act.

    The BJP leader said his party will take on the government and stand with the people over their issues.

    He also took a dig at JD(U) leader Kumar after one of his party MLAs, Bima Bharti, questioned him for the induction of Leshi Singh as a minister.

    Infighting has begun within the party, he said.

    Hitting back, Nitish asserted that the controversy surrounding the newly inducted minister and RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh was being “looked into” for suitable action.

    The JD(U) leader also reprimanded party MLA Bima Bharti for raising questions over re-induction of Leshi Singh, who has been a minister for many years, and said the rebellious legislator will be “properly briefed by the party”.

    Kumar, who now heads a government that includes, besides his party and RJD, the Congress and the Left extending support from outside, was talking to reporters at the IGIMS hospital here where he had gone to enquire about the well-being of Bijendra Prasad Yadav, the eldest member of his cabinet, who was admitted previous night after taking ill.

    Kumar was asked by journalists about the allegations of “return of jungle raj” by BJP leaders, who have been bombarding social media with incidents of crime and criminal cases involving ministers in the new cabinet, sore over loss of power.

    “I will answer them at an appropriate time. They are speaking a lot. At this moment, I just need to assure the people that the pace of development under the new dispensation will be greater than ever before”, said the chief minister.

    Asked about a criminal case involving Kartikeya Singh, the state’s law minister, Kumar said, “The matter is being looked into. Whatever is needed will be done.”

    The chief minister had on Wednesday said he had no information about the controversy surrounding Singh, known to be close to dreaded former Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh who was disqualified last month after conviction in a case relating to the recovery of explosives, arms and ammunition from his house.

    Kumar, the JD(U)’s de facto leader, reacted with obvious displeasure when he was asked about the outbursts of Bima Bharti, a former minister herself, who was livid over the re-induction of Leshi Singh.

    Both Singh and Bharti got elected from adjoining assembly segments of Purnea district.

    Singh’s late husband and Bharti’s spouse are said to have been rivals with a reputation for use of muscle power.

    “There is no problem with Leshi Singh,” Kumar stated about the minister for food and consumer protection, pointing out that she has been in the cabinet for a long.

    The CM also disapproved of Bharti “who has herself been made a minister in the past”, going public with her grievances.

    “She will be tackled at the party level. If she sees reason, fine, else she shall be free to chart her own course,” Kumar said curtly.

    ALSO READ | ‘Modi ko hatana hai’: Lalu’s first comments after NDA fallout in Bihar

    The CM was also asked about his meeting with RJD president Lalu Prasad, his arch rival whose younger son Tejashwi Yadav is back as his deputy while elder one Tej Pratap Yadav has also been given a cabinet berth.

    “He and I go a long way back. We may have treaded separate paths for some time, but you all know the relationship we share,” said Kumar about Prasad whom he has often called his “bada bhai” (elder brother) despite a fierce political rivalry.

    According to sources close to the ailing RJD supremo, the septuagenarian had on Wednesday night requested the chief minister to stay put and “guide” his children in their political journey.

    “Don’t go here and there anymore,” Prasad is said to have told Kumar in a jocular vein, in an oblique reference to the chief minister having made many a political about turn.

    Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Thursday alleged that BJP, “having got nothing else to do”, was trying to “defame” the new government in the state as it was “uncomfortable” with the ‘Mahagathbandhan’s pro-people stance.’

    About law minister and RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh, whose alleged criminal antecedents are being highlighted by the BJP, Yadav said the law will take its own course.

    “The BJP is now left with nothing to do. It is also uncomfortable over Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s announcement on job creation in his Independence Day speech. So it is trying to defame us,” said the RJD heir apparent.

    “We need not care about the BJP and a section of the media which is loyal towards them. We shall keep working for the people,” said the young leader.

    He pooh-poohed BJP’s claim that with RJD back in power, it was a “return of jungle raj in Bihar”, but added that Kartikeya Singh, whose induction is being criticized by the saffron party, was yet to be proven guilty of a crime by a court of law.

    He also rebuffed BJP’s claim that Singh got sworn in on the very day he was supposed to appear before a court which had issued a warrant following the RJD MLC’s failure to appear, despite summons, in a kidnapping case.

    “After the warrant, the court has granted interim protection against arrest. We will follow the court’s directions,” added Yadav.

    PATNA: Former JD(U) national president RCP Singh, who was in the eye of a political storm in Bihar, on Thursday said he was keeping “all options open”, including a formal entry into the BJP.

    The former Union minister also lashed out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the latest political u-turn that saw the de facto JD(U) leader dumping the BJP and realigning with the “Mahagathbandhan” of the RJD, Congress and the Left.

    “I have all options open”, said Singh and when pointedly asked whether he would like to join the BJP, he quipped “why not?” The bureaucrat turned politician, who had to give up his ministerial berth upon denial of another Rajya Sabha term by the JD(U), maintained that Kumar, the de facto leader of the party, “will not become the prime minister even if he were to be reborn seven times”.

    “These are not times of political instability in the country when Chandra Shekhar, H D Deve Gowda, I K Gujaral etc. could enjoy brief stints as PM,” said Singh.

    The JD(U) accused Singh of having become a mole of the saffron camp.

    He denied allegations of having acted against the JD(U)’s interests at BJP’s behest in the last assembly polls of 2020, and a few months later, having become a Union minister without consent of the Bihar CM.

    ALSO READ | Developments in Bihar positive sign for national politics: Akhilesh Yadav

    “Why was the alliance not called off immediately after assembly polls if there was sabotage (bhitarghaat)? Why did senior party leaders congratulate me if my becoming a minister was an act of defiance?”, asked Singh.

    He alleged that Kumar “had made up his mind to betray the mandate of 2020 when people had voted the NDA back to power. I am just being used as an alibi to justify yet another volte-face. I wonder how many times can he switch sides”.

    Meanwhile, the BJP on Thursday cited recent cases of heinous crimes in Bihar and alleged involvement of some of the state ministers in criminal cases to claim that criminals have become “fearless” after the grand alliance came to power.

    Former Union minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad noted that two persons, a class 12 girl student and a solider, were shot in Patna, his Lok Sabha constituency, in the last 24 hours as he took a swipe at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

    ALSO READ | Unease over cabinet portfolio choices in Bihar’s ‘Mahagathbandhan’ 

    These are no routine crimes and show how emboldened criminals have become in the state within days of the new government assuming office, he told reporters.

    If this is the situation in the state’s capital, one can well imagine where the state is heading, he said.

    “The state is returning to jungle raj,” he alleged.

    He also hit out at the government over the row over Bihar minister Kartikeya Singh’s suspected involvement in a kidnapping case and alleged the state’s agriculture minister was earlier linked to a rice scam.

    Singh’s lawyer has said the police investigation has found no evidence against him.

    Prasad refuted the claim and said the Patna High Court had in 2017 rejected the RJD leader’s plea for anticipatory bail by noting that the complaint’s statement highlights his role in the abduction.

    The court had asked him to surrender and to apply for regular bail, he said, accusing the police of trying to save him after the JD(U)-RJD-Congress formed the government.

    Kumar on Thursday dismissed allegations of “return of jungle raj” by the BJP and asserted that the controversy surrounding newly inducted minister and RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh was being “looked into” for suitable action.

    Asked about the BJP’s charge, he told reporters in Patna, “I will answer them at an appropriate time. They are speaking a lot. At this moment, I just need to assure people that the pace of development under the new dispensation will be greater than ever before.”

    Prasad said the police’s defence of Karikeya Singh has sent out the message to criminals that they can break the law and police will not act.

    The BJP leader said his party will take on the government and stand with the people over their issues.

    He also took a dig at JD(U) leader Kumar after one of his party MLAs, Bima Bharti, questioned him for the induction of Leshi Singh as a minister.

    Infighting has begun within the party, he said.

    Hitting back, Nitish asserted that the controversy surrounding the newly inducted minister and RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh was being “looked into” for suitable action.

    The JD(U) leader also reprimanded party MLA Bima Bharti for raising questions over re-induction of Leshi Singh, who has been a minister for many years, and said the rebellious legislator will be “properly briefed by the party”.

    Kumar, who now heads a government that includes, besides his party and RJD, the Congress and the Left extending support from outside, was talking to reporters at the IGIMS hospital here where he had gone to enquire about the well-being of Bijendra Prasad Yadav, the eldest member of his cabinet, who was admitted previous night after taking ill.

    Kumar was asked by journalists about the allegations of “return of jungle raj” by BJP leaders, who have been bombarding social media with incidents of crime and criminal cases involving ministers in the new cabinet, sore over loss of power.

    “I will answer them at an appropriate time. They are speaking a lot. At this moment, I just need to assure the people that the pace of development under the new dispensation will be greater than ever before”, said the chief minister.

    Asked about a criminal case involving Kartikeya Singh, the state’s law minister, Kumar said, “The matter is being looked into. Whatever is needed will be done.”

    The chief minister had on Wednesday said he had no information about the controversy surrounding Singh, known to be close to dreaded former Mokama MLA Anant Kumar Singh who was disqualified last month after conviction in a case relating to the recovery of explosives, arms and ammunition from his house.

    Kumar, the JD(U)’s de facto leader, reacted with obvious displeasure when he was asked about the outbursts of Bima Bharti, a former minister herself, who was livid over the re-induction of Leshi Singh.

    Both Singh and Bharti got elected from adjoining assembly segments of Purnea district.

    Singh’s late husband and Bharti’s spouse are said to have been rivals with a reputation for use of muscle power.

    “There is no problem with Leshi Singh,” Kumar stated about the minister for food and consumer protection, pointing out that she has been in the cabinet for a long.

    The CM also disapproved of Bharti “who has herself been made a minister in the past”, going public with her grievances.

    “She will be tackled at the party level. If she sees reason, fine, else she shall be free to chart her own course,” Kumar said curtly.

    ALSO READ | ‘Modi ko hatana hai’: Lalu’s first comments after NDA fallout in Bihar

    The CM was also asked about his meeting with RJD president Lalu Prasad, his arch rival whose younger son Tejashwi Yadav is back as his deputy while elder one Tej Pratap Yadav has also been given a cabinet berth.

    “He and I go a long way back. We may have treaded separate paths for some time, but you all know the relationship we share,” said Kumar about Prasad whom he has often called his “bada bhai” (elder brother) despite a fierce political rivalry.

    According to sources close to the ailing RJD supremo, the septuagenarian had on Wednesday night requested the chief minister to stay put and “guide” his children in their political journey.

    “Don’t go here and there anymore,” Prasad is said to have told Kumar in a jocular vein, in an oblique reference to the chief minister having made many a political about turn.

    Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Thursday alleged that BJP, “having got nothing else to do”, was trying to “defame” the new government in the state as it was “uncomfortable” with the ‘Mahagathbandhan’s pro-people stance.’

    About law minister and RJD MLC Kartikeya Singh, whose alleged criminal antecedents are being highlighted by the BJP, Yadav said the law will take its own course.

    “The BJP is now left with nothing to do. It is also uncomfortable over Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s announcement on job creation in his Independence Day speech. So it is trying to defame us,” said the RJD heir apparent.

    “We need not care about the BJP and a section of the media which is loyal towards them. We shall keep working for the people,” said the young leader.

    He pooh-poohed BJP’s claim that with RJD back in power, it was a “return of jungle raj in Bihar”, but added that Kartikeya Singh, whose induction is being criticized by the saffron party, was yet to be proven guilty of a crime by a court of law.

    He also rebuffed BJP’s claim that Singh got sworn in on the very day he was supposed to appear before a court which had issued a warrant following the RJD MLC’s failure to appear, despite summons, in a kidnapping case.

    “After the warrant, the court has granted interim protection against arrest. We will follow the court’s directions,” added Yadav.

  • Nitish Kumar’s ‘hanuman’ RCP Singh quits JD-U after corruption charges

    Express News Service

    PATNA: Former Union minister RCP Singh resigned from primary membership of Janata Dal (United) on Saturday, only a few hours after he was charged with corruption and amassing of huge wealth.

    Singh, once considered as ‘hanuman’ of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, hinted at forming a new party soon. He had resigned from Union Cabinet after his term of Rajya Sabha came to an end on July 7.

    Describing JD-U as a ‘sinking ship’, Singh exhorted his supporters to accompany him. “Aap sabhi log mere saath chaliye. JD-U ab dubta hua jahaj hai (You all come with me. JD-U is now a sinking ship),” he added.

    He alleged that the corruption charges were levelled against him by some party workers under a conspiracy. The charges of corruption were levelled by two leaders of his home district Nalanda, a charge denied by Singh.

    According to the allegations, Singh had purchased 58 plots of land under two blocks of Nalanda district between 2013 and 2022. The plots were purchased in the name of his wife and two daughters, including an IPS officer.

    Taking cognisance of the allegations, JD-U state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha issued a show cause notice to Singh asking him to reply at the earliest. Kushwaha said the allegations against Singh were serious in nature.

    Former Union minister and JD-U parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha said since the matter has come into public domain, investigating agency may take suo motu cognisance of the charges levelled against Singh.

    Responding to a query, Upendra Kushwaha said that the party first wanted reply of Singh on the issue. “Party phir apna kaam karegi (party will take action accordingly),” he asserted.

    Singh had served as national president of JD-U before he was inducted in union cabinet and made steel minister in the Narendra Modi government. Singh’s relationship with Nitish got strained after he was denied nomination for Rajya Sabha for the third term. He had joined JD-U after taking voluntary retire from IAS in 2010.

    Subsequently he was appointed general secretary of JD-U. He owed political success to his proximity with Nitish during the latter’s tenure as railway minister at the centre.

    When Nitish became chief minister of Bihar, Singh was brought to Bihar from his home cadre Uttar Pradesh and made principal secretary to chief minister, a post he held till he opted voluntary retire from service. He was made national president of the party in January last year after Nitish Kumar relinquished the post under ‘one man one post policy’, which he had been holding for the past several years.

    PATNA: Former Union minister RCP Singh resigned from primary membership of Janata Dal (United) on Saturday, only a few hours after he was charged with corruption and amassing of huge wealth.

    Singh, once considered as ‘hanuman’ of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, hinted at forming a new party soon. He had resigned from Union Cabinet after his term of Rajya Sabha came to an end on July 7.

    Describing JD-U as a ‘sinking ship’, Singh exhorted his supporters to accompany him. “Aap sabhi log mere saath chaliye. JD-U ab dubta hua jahaj hai (You all come with me. JD-U is now a sinking ship),” he added.

    He alleged that the corruption charges were levelled against him by some party workers under a conspiracy. The charges of corruption were levelled by two leaders of his home district Nalanda, a charge denied by Singh.

    According to the allegations, Singh had purchased 58 plots of land under two blocks of Nalanda district between 2013 and 2022. The plots were purchased in the name of his wife and two daughters, including an IPS officer.

    Taking cognisance of the allegations, JD-U state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha issued a show cause notice to Singh asking him to reply at the earliest. Kushwaha said the allegations against Singh were serious in nature.

    Former Union minister and JD-U parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha said since the matter has come into public domain, investigating agency may take suo motu cognisance of the charges levelled against Singh.

    Responding to a query, Upendra Kushwaha said that the party first wanted reply of Singh on the issue. “Party phir apna kaam karegi (party will take action accordingly),” he asserted.

    Singh had served as national president of JD-U before he was inducted in union cabinet and made steel minister in the Narendra Modi government. Singh’s relationship with Nitish got strained after he was denied nomination for Rajya Sabha for the third term. He had joined JD-U after taking voluntary retire from IAS in 2010.

    Subsequently he was appointed general secretary of JD-U. He owed political success to his proximity with Nitish during the latter’s tenure as railway minister at the centre.

    When Nitish became chief minister of Bihar, Singh was brought to Bihar from his home cadre Uttar Pradesh and made principal secretary to chief minister, a post he held till he opted voluntary retire from service. He was made national president of the party in January last year after Nitish Kumar relinquished the post under ‘one man one post policy’, which he had been holding for the past several years.

  • Nitish’s JD-U serves show cause notice on ex-party president, seeks details of land deals

    By Express News Service

    PATNA: Former union minister and estranged leader of JD-U, RCP Singh, who had resigned from the Narendra Modi cabinet on July 6, on Saturday courted fresh controversy after two party leaders accused him of purchasing big land parcels in a clandestine manner.

    RCP Singh allegedly purchased these properties in Nalanda, his home district and did not declare them in his election affidavits.

    JD-U has served a show cause notice to RCP in this connection, asking him to share information of all the properties he has acquired in the last nine years.

    In the show cause notice, Bihar JD (U) president Umesh Singh Kushwhaha said that several irregularities seem to have been committed to amass these big land parcels from 2013 to 2022.

    ALSO READ | High uranium in groundwater in Bihar leaves authorities worried, sample sent to Lucknow lab

    “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has a zero tolerance policy against corruption and so you (RCP) should immediately reply to the allegations of corruption,”  Kushwhaha directed in the notice served to the former union minister.

    RCP Singh, however, described the allegations levelled against him as baseless.

    “There is no discrepancy in the purchase of land in the name of my two daughters during the period,” he told The New Indian Express.

    RCP, a former IAS officer, was once a close aide of Nitish and nominated to the Rajya Sabha twice. He was also JD-U national president.

    His relationship with Nitish soured after he joined the union cabinet without the consent of the Bihar CM. Nitish apparently lost his patience when RCP claimed that he had climbed the ladder of success in his political career due to his own capability and hard work, and failed to acknowledge the former’s support in his political rise.

    PATNA: Former union minister and estranged leader of JD-U, RCP Singh, who had resigned from the Narendra Modi cabinet on July 6, on Saturday courted fresh controversy after two party leaders accused him of purchasing big land parcels in a clandestine manner.

    RCP Singh allegedly purchased these properties in Nalanda, his home district and did not declare them in his election affidavits.

    JD-U has served a show cause notice to RCP in this connection, asking him to share information of all the properties he has acquired in the last nine years.

    In the show cause notice, Bihar JD (U) president Umesh Singh Kushwhaha said that several irregularities seem to have been committed to amass these big land parcels from 2013 to 2022.

    ALSO READ | High uranium in groundwater in Bihar leaves authorities worried, sample sent to Lucknow lab

    “Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has a zero tolerance policy against corruption and so you (RCP) should immediately reply to the allegations of corruption,”  Kushwhaha directed in the notice served to the former union minister.

    RCP Singh, however, described the allegations levelled against him as baseless.

    “There is no discrepancy in the purchase of land in the name of my two daughters during the period,” he told The New Indian Express.

    RCP, a former IAS officer, was once a close aide of Nitish and nominated to the Rajya Sabha twice. He was also JD-U national president.

    His relationship with Nitish soured after he joined the union cabinet without the consent of the Bihar CM. Nitish apparently lost his patience when RCP claimed that he had climbed the ladder of success in his political career due to his own capability and hard work, and failed to acknowledge the former’s support in his political rise.

  • Snubbed by JDU, Union minister RCP Singh to seek PM’s advice on continuing in Cabinet

    By PTI

    PATNA: Chastened by the snub from his JD(U), which has denied him another term in the Rajya Sabha, Union minister RCP Singh on Monday said he will seek advice from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on whether he should continue in the cabinet.

    Talking to reporters for the first time after being blindsided by the party he once headed, Singh, however, swore by his loyalty towards Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the de facto leader of the JD(U), claiming that he had become a minister in the Union cabinet with “full approval” of the latter.

    “For all that I have achieved in my political career so far, I thank Nitish babu. I will continue to work for the party organisation in whatever capacity he deems fit for me. As far as Union cabinet is concerned, since it is the Prime Minister’s prerogative I will have to seek his advice. If he says I should resign, I will do so,” said the bureaucrat-turned-politician.

    Singh is serving his second consecutive tenure at the Rajya Sabha, which comes to an end in July.

    As per rules, he can continue as a Union minister, without being a member of either house of Parliament, for not more than six months.

    The JD(U) had sprung a surprise on Sunday when it announced its Jharkhand unit chief and former MLA Kheeru Mahto as the candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls in Bihar.

    The former UP cadre IAS officer, who was the JD(U) national president till the time he got inducted into the Union cabinet, pooh-poohed suggestions that the Bihar chief minister was upset over his accepting a ministerial berth despite the latter being opposed to a “token representation” and insisting on a “respectable” share.

    Notably, Kumar had turned down the offer of “token representation” made by BJP to all allies soon after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which saw Modi returning to power with a brute majority.

    Induction of RCP Singh in the cabinet last year was viewed in many quarters as a softening of stance by Kumar, in the wake of his diminished strength in the state assembly in 2020 polls.

    However, many JD(U) leaders claimed on condition of anonymity that Kumar was still insistent on a greater share in the Union cabinet, in view of the fact that following the exit of the Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal, the NDA was bereft of major allies and his party was the BJP’s oldest and largest coalition partner.

    The JD(U) leaders also contended that RCP, who belongs to the same Nalanda district and Kurmi caste as Kumar, might have misled the BJP leadership into believing that the Bihar CM was now ready for a smaller share in power at the Centre.

    Despite his professed admiration for Kumar, RCP Singh did not seem impressed with speculations that his political mentor was a “prime ministerial candidate”.

    “You tell me how is that possible. To become the PM, you need 273 MPs. Our party is confined to Bihar. People like H D Deve Gowda became PM but how long did they last? Our leader Nitish babu has already made history. He is the longest-serving chief minister of the state,” said the Union minister, who is seen by many in the JD(U) as having grown too close to the BJP.

    The former JD(U) president also rubbished speculations about his tug of war with his successor Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan.

    “I had accompanied him (Lalan) when he was filing his nomination papers from Munger during the Lok Sabha polls. I have excellent relations with all colleagues in the party,” he said.

  • JDU names Kheeru Mahto as Rajya Sabha poll candidate, snubs Union Minister RCP Singh

    Express News Service

    PATNA: The suspense over JDU’s Rajya Sabha candidate finally ended on Sunday when the party nominated Jharkhand unit chief Khiru Mahto even as its ally, BJP also announced the names of its two candidates for the Upper House of the Parliament.

    Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar refused to re-nominate his one-time close aide and Union Minister RCP Singh which is likely to have repercussions for the party.

    The party’s decision may cost RCP his ministerial berth unless BJP comes to his rescue and re-nominates him to Rajya Sabha.

    Both JD (U) president Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and party parliamentary board chairman Upendra Kushwaha remained tight-lipped about the reasons behind the refusal of RCP’s re-nomination.

    Lalan Singh said it was wrong to say that factionalism in the party cost RCP his re-nomination for the third term, asserting that there was only one camp in the party and that was Nitish Kumar camp.

    The party’s decision to nominate Mahto is seen as Nitish’s ploy to dilute the impact of his refusal to re-nominate to Rajya Sabha. It is still not known whether BJP was taken in the loop before JDU’s top brass decided not to re-nominate RCP.

    Nitish was reportedly unhappy with RCP ever since the latter joined the Union Cabinet as the JD(U) wanted two ministerial berths in the Cabinet. Nitish had also not congratulated RCP after his induction into the union cabinet.

    Both Lalan Singh and Upendra Kushwaha said that the party decided to nominate Mahto as he has been associated with the party since the formation of the erstwhile Samata Party. 

    “His nomination to Rajya Sabha will strengthen the support base of the party in Jharkhand,” Lalan said.

  • RCP Singh and loyalists ousted from JD(U) panel

    Express News Service

    PATNA: A recent revamp of the JD(U)’s northeast executive council saw former party president and current Union minister R C P Singh and his loyalists getting dropped from the panel. The surprise decision lays bare the simmering tension between Singh and current JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan, a party leader said, adding: “Singh and Rajiv never shared a cordial relationship.”

    Sources said Rajiv, who had been sore ever since losing a Union Cabinet berth to Singh, removed the latter’s supporters from state headquarters post, too. Notable ousters on Thursday were that of state general secretaries Anil Kumar and Chandan Singh, both of whom were tasked with spadework as their stint as headquarters in-charge was largely seen as a reward for their loyalty to Singh.

    During Tuesday’s meeting to discuss party strategy for Manipur elections, Rajiv removed Singh and his loyalist Sanjay Verma (in-charge of northeastern states) from the council, while inducting WRD minister Sanjay K Jha as a core member. Prominent among the old guards to escape the axing was national general secretary K C Tyagi.

    Sources claimed the relations between Rajiv and Singh worsened recently when the latter’s supporters stuck posters in the party headquarters with the former’s image missing. While the posters were removed after their supporters locked horns, the damage had been done, sources added. Party leaders claimed Rajiv and chairman of party’s Parliamentary board Upendra Kushwaha share a good rapport and the rejig is part of their attempts to dominate the party affairs.

  • Munger MP Lalan Singh replaces RCP Singh as JDU president

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: JDU MP Rajiv Ranjan, better known as Lalan Singh, was on Saturday chosen as its national president at the party’s national executive meeting here, sources said. Singh replaces RCP Singh, who offered to step down as he has been inducted as a Cabinet minister in the Modi government.

    Lalan Singh, a Bhumihar MP from Munger Lok Sabha constituency in Bihar, has long been a close confidant of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the main face of his party.

  • RCP Singh to step down, new national president likely for JDU

    Express News Service
    PATNA: Bihar’s ruling JD-U is likely to get a new national president replacing RCP Singh after he was chosen as a Union cabinet minister.

    The meeting of the party’s national executive is slated to be held on July 31 in New Delhi with tall senior leaders of the party in attendance. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar reached New Delhi on Friday evening to attend the meet.

    Sources within the JDU said that the name of Munger MP Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh is almost agreed upon. Lalan Singh is considered closest to CM Nitish Kumar in the party after RCP Singh.

    Lalan Singh has profound experience in handling party affairs and chalking out political strategies. The JDU follows one post one person policy in the party.

    Lalan Singh has always put party’s political interests at the forefront in decision-making exercises within the party. With the election of Lalan Singh to the post of national president, JD-U will try to give a message ti upper caste Bhumihar, which is learnt to have become annoyed with JD-U since last few years.

  • Nitish Kumar drops hint on replacing RCP Singh as JDU national president soon

    Express News Service
    PATNA: With RCP Singh becoming a Minister in Union Cabinet, Bihar’s ruling Janta Dal (United) is likely to elect another senior leader as party’s national president following the party norm of ‘one post one man’ policy.

    Sources from within the JD-U indicated about the possibility of replacing the current national president RCP Singh could be part of the agenda at JDU’s national executive meeting which is likely to be held on on July 31.

    Speculations are rife with the news that new national president of JD-U can also be finalised at the meeting with the consent of CM Nitish Kumar, who is learnt to be not as happy as he was earlier with RCP Singh after the latter accepted the offer of one berth in Cabinet and has become the minister.

    Earlier, Nitish Kumar had not congratulated Singh through his twitter handle contrary to usual activity.

    At a party meeting of newly nominated state office-bearers of JDU, held on Sunday, Nitish Kumar lavishly heaped praised upon Upendra Kushwaha, who is touring across the state for taking people’s feedbacks on the former’s governance. Nitish Kumar’s praises to Kushwaha in an open party platform is construed as an indication towards the change of party national president following the principle of ‘One Person, One Post’.

    “Nitish Kumar ji,who speaks less but acts more strongly when it comes to policies and principles of party, has given a sort of hint regarding  RCP Singh being replaced either by Upendra Kushwaha or Rajiv Ranjan Singh,” said a senior leader, wishing not to be named.

    RCP Singh, who is also considered close to the BJP political higher-ups, also realising the pervasive sense in the wake of his induction in the union cabinet on single berth by BJP, also said that he would have no problem to abdicate the post of national president if the party desires.

    “But I, thanks to the kindness of God, am also capable to discharge the responsibilities of both he posts –of minister and the party national president,” he added.

    For the post of JDU national president, the name of Upendra Kushwaha runs on the top as he after merging his party RLSP with the JD-U is gradually gaining influence in the party and trust of Nitish Kumar again.

    But, as sources said, RCP Singh has never warmed to Kushwaha’s entry into party or his elevation to the upper post because of the latter’s past history of joining multiple alliances.

  • Nitish Kumar’s silence on RCP Singh’s Union Cabinet elevation surprises JD-U

    Express News Service
    PATNA:  More than 24 hours have passed since JD-U national president RCP Singh was inducted into the Central Cabinet, but the usual congratulatory message from party leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has not come.

    Kumar, who is active on Twitter, did not make any congratulatory comment. It has caught Patna’s political circle by surprise. “Boss (Nitish Kumar) is silent and that is beyond our comprehension. If something goes against his will, he turns silent and avoids discussions,” a senior JD-U leader said.

    Sources felt JD-U getting just one berth and others including his close confidante Rajiv Ranjan Singh missing out might have irked Kumar and that is why he is silent. In fact, RCP Singh had been authorised by the party to take a call on joining the Union Cabinet.

    However, JD-U getting just one minister despite having 16 MPs is causing unease. “What is the difference between LJP led by Pashupati Kumar Paras and our party led by Nitish Kumar? We should have got at least two Cabinet and one State Minister berths,” said a leader.

    “After becoming a Cabinet minister, RCP Singh has received a host of messages but not a single tweet from Nitish Kumar. It shows that he is not happy with the decision of accepting only one cabinet berth,” another JD-U leader said.

    Kumar expressed grief at the demise of former Himachal Pradesh CM Virbhadra Singh. But even as JD-U state president Umesh Kushwaha and other party leaders congratulated RCP Singh, the CM was quiet on this. “Question is bound to arise whether Kumar is not happy with RCP Singh becoming a minister? He is active on Twitter and other social media platforms than he was in the past. But what does this silence show?” was the common thought of JD-U leaders.