Bihar: JD(U) Intensifies Demand For Special Status As Sanjay Jha Made Working President Ahead Of 2025 Polls

Sanjay Jha, JD(U)'s leader in the Rajya Sabha, is seen as a key figure in maintaining good relations with the BJP. His appointment is viewed as strategic, given his rapport with the BJP.

Sanjay Jha is also Janata Dal-United's leader in the Rajya Sabha. ( Image Source :PTI Images )

The Janata Dal (United) appointed its Rajya Sabha member, Sanjay Jha, as working president on Saturday. This decision was made during a meeting of the party's national executive, where it reiterated its demand for special category status for Bihar or an alternative special package, the party's senior leader Neeraj Kumar told news agency Press Trust of India (PTI). 

The JD(U), an ally of the BJP, also called for strict measures against those involved in exam paper leaks and urged the implementation of strong laws. 

Jha, who is also the party's leader in the Rajya Sabha, is seen as a key figure in maintaining good relations with the BJP leadership. His appointment is viewed as strategic, given his rapport with the BJP.

Speaking on his new role, Jha said, "Our leader and national president, CM Nitish Kumar, has given me a major responsibility. I am grateful to him. Nitish Kumar has transformed Bihar. The election results in Bihar showed that we won 30 out of 40 seats and 177 out of 243 assembly seats. Bihar has given a signal for the 2025 Assembly elections". 

#WATCH | On becoming Janata Dal United's national executive president, party MP Sanjay Jha says, "Our leader and our national president, CM Nitish Kumar has given me a huge responsibility. I am grateful to him and Nitish Kumar has transformed Bihar...The election that took place… pic.twitter.com/6CAs1bxgMb

— ANI (@ANI) June 29, 2024

On the issue of NEET, he added, "A strict law should be implemented, and action should be taken against those guilty to restore people's confidence". 

Following his appointment, Jha told PTI that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always shown attention to Bihar and expressed hope that the party's "demand" would be fulfilled.  

JD(U) National Executive Meeting 

The JD(U) national executive expressed concern over the Patna High Court's decision to strike down the Bihar government's law for increased reservation. The party urged the Centre to place the Act in the Consituition's Ninth Schedule to prevent judicial review, PTI said. 

The party's national executive also expressed confidence that the NDA government at the Centre would take effective steps to address pressing issues such as price rise and unemployment, the news agency said. 

The meeting, held in Delhi, was attended by Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, Union Ministers Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, and other senior leaders from across the country.