Janata Dal (United) party president Lalan Singh on Friday, December 29, stepped down from his post during a key meeting of the party's national executive in New Delhi. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar once again became the chief of the party.
Party's chief spokesperson K C Tyagi said Kumar has agreed to take over the mantle from Lalan Singh. 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.
Party workers celebrated and raised slogans 'Desh ka Pradhan Mantri kaisa ho? Nitish Kumar jaisa ho' outside the party office in Delhi as the Chief Minister took the mantle again.
Sources said 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.
The party is part of the opposition INDIA bloc. Singh's leadership style was also criticised by several leaders within the party in their recent interactions with Kumar, the sources said.
Amid reports of rift within the party, the chief minister has worked to project a picture of unity by keeping him by his side. Sources within the party have been dismissive of reports that Singh's perceived proximity to the RJD was a reason behind his ouster, noting that he has been a close ally of Kumar for decades. 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, a report by PTI said.
With inputs from PTI
First Published: Dec 29, 2023 1:01 PM IST
