Nitish Kumar Takes Charge as JDU National President, Workers Celebrate in Patna

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assumes the position of national president of the JDU, igniting joyous celebrations among party workers in Patna. The development occurs during a critical period of resistance against the BJP-led Centres emergency-like governance.

In a significant development, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar assumed charge as the national president of the Janata Dal (United) [JDU] on Friday, December 29. The news of Kumar's appointment was met with jubilation among party workers in Bihar, who gathered at the state headquarters in Patna to celebrate the occasion.

Elation and Celebration in Patna

As word of Kumar's elevation reached the state headquarters, party workers erupted in joy, smearing each other with 'gulaal' dry colors to express their delight. JDU state unit chief Umesh Singh Kushwaha welcomed the development, stating that it comes at a crucial time when the party is engaged in a fight against the "emergency-like situation" under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Centre.

Kumar Takes Over from Lalan

Kumar took over the reins of the party from Rajiv Ranjan Singh 'Lalan,' who expressed his desire to relinquish the national president's post that he had held since March 2021. Lalan moved a proposal for Kumar to take over, which was unanimously accepted by the party's national executive meeting in Delhi.

Speculations and Accusations

The development comes after days of intense speculation, during which the BJP and its allies alleged that Kumar had grown suspicious of Lalan due to the latter's apparent closeness to Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad, the father of Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. Kumar's election as JDU president was seen as a strategic move, projecting him as the hope for backward classes, extremely backward classes, minorities, and unemployed youth.

Kumar's Response and BJP's Reaction

In his remarks after assuming the mantle of party president, Kumar maintained a composed demeanor, accusing the BJP of misleading people and failing to deliver on its promises, including employment generation. However, former Deputy CM and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi claimed that there are two factions within the JDU, with one faction regretting the decision to quit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last year and the other, led by Lalan, being pro-Lalu. Modi predicted the disintegration of the JDU and expressed concerns about the RJD's growing impatience to see Tejashwi Yadav as the Chief Minister.

Yadav Dismisses Trust Deficit Allegations

Responding to the news, Tejashwi Yadav asserted that there was no trust deficit between him and Kumar. He alleged that the BJP was apprehensive about facing the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Yadav highlighted the BJP's loss in the 2015 assembly elections when the 'Mahagathbandhan' secured over 170 seats in the 243-member House. He expressed confidence that the alliance between Lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls would make the BJP jittery.

Party Workers' Perspective

Party workers at the JDU office expressed their relief that Lalan had relinquished the top post but clarified that it was not related to any perceived lack of loyalty towards Nitish Kumar. A party functionary, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Lalan had played a crucial role in the JDU at a critical juncture but had recently become preoccupied with retaining his own Lok Sabha seat of Munger. The functionary cited a letter written by Lalan to the state's Minister for Water Resources, Sanjay Kumar Jha, highlighting problems in some riverine areas in his constituency. The functionary deemed this action unbecoming of a party president.

Kumar's Previous Terms as Party President

Nitish Kumar has a history of holding the top party post in the JDU. He previously served as the party president in 2016, succeeding veteran socialist leader Sharad Yadav, who was later ousted from the party. Kumar held the position until the end of 2020 when he stepped down and facilitated the election of RCP Singh, a bureaucrat-turned-politician, as the new national president. Singh's tenure was short-lived, lasting only seven months until July 2021, when he resigned following his induction into the Union cabinet. This paved the way for Lalan's elevation, who has been a close associate of Kumar for several decades.

Conclusion

Nitish Kumar's assumption of the JDU national president's role has infused a sense of optimism among party workers in Bihar. As the party gears up for upcoming electoral challenges, Kumar's leadership and experience are expected to play a pivotal role in steering the JDU towards success.