Nitish Kumar Becomes JD(U) President As Lalan Singh Steps Down

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to take over as JD(U) president after Lalan Singh stepped down from the post.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) National President Lalan Singh convene the party's national executive meeting, in New Delh.

Source : PTI

Janata Dal-United or JD(U)’s Lalan Singh has stepped down as party president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected to take over the post after a national executive meeting of the party. The development comes after a national executive meeting began on Friday at the Constitution Club in Delhi which was attended by CM Nitish Kumar, now former JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh, and other party leaders. Lalan Singh is yet to reveal the reason for his resignation.

Kumar is lauded for his role in bringing together opposition parties and spearheading the demand for caste census.

#BREAKING | ललन सिंह ने दिया JDU अध्यक्ष पद से इस्तीफा

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— ABP News (@ABPNews) December 29, 2023

According to PTI, Singh stepped down at the closed-door meeting and proposed Kumar's name, saying his leadership will be needed at this crucial juncture in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls while he will be busy fighting his own election. He currently represents Munger constituency in Lok Sabha.

Most key leaders within the party were of the view that Kumar being its most prominent face should take charge of the organisation at this crucial time.

Following the announcement, JD(U) workers raised slogans enthusiastically and stated that 'the country needs a prime minister like Nitish Kumar'. The workers said that there is no difference between Nitish Kumar and Lalan Singh. However, they said the change has been made because of the Lok Sabha elections, and that the I.N.D.I.A bloc would like to take CM Kumar along. 

#WATCH | Janta Dal United workers celebrate and raise slogans 'Desh ka Pradhan Mantri kaisa ho? Nitish Kumar jaisa ho' outside the party office in Delhi as Bihar CM Nitish Kumar accepts the proposal to become the national president of the party. pic.twitter.com/mKeP5eWIVb

— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

Party's chief spokesperson K C Tyagi said Kumar has agreed to take over the mantle from Lalan Singh. Singh's leadership style was also criticised by several leaders within the party in their recent interactions with Kumar.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar elected JD(U) president at party's national executive meeting, says party leader K C Tyagi

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 29, 2023

Reacting to the news Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said, "There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept our proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the post of party president to him and Nitish Kumar accepted it..."

#WATCH | Delhi: Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary says "There will national executive meeting of JD(U). If they accept our proposal then Nitish Kumar will be the party president. Lalan Singh told CM Nitish Kumar that he will be busy with elections, so he wants to hand over the… pic.twitter.com/qz4cqh7p8e

— ANI (@ANI) December 29, 2023

According to PTI, Kumar said in the executive meeting that he was not personally keen to take over as the party's president but will abide by the decision of national executive members who heartily endorsed the development. Among several proposals discussed in the meeting was the Kumar's leadership in pushing for caste census and getting a "caste survey" done in Bihar, leading to the state government enhancing the reservation from the existing 60 per cent to 75 per cent.

Earlier in the day, Choudhary dismissed all reports and said that Lalan Singh was working fine and would remain the national president. Choudhary further conveyed that the matter would be discussed within the party, addressing any potential concerns raised by the agenda during the meeting.

On Thursday, JD(U) quashed all reports that suggested a likely change of guard in the Party Leadership, according to ANI. Rajeev Ranjan (Lalan Singh) had said, "The National Executive is a regular meeting of the JDU. There are meetings of the national executive often. Nitish Kumar is our supreme leader and the JD(U) is one and will always remain one."

Meanwhile, KC Tyagi also emphasised that the meeting would be a regular one where alliances in states would also be discussed.

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