Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday cooled the nerves of Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh by bestowing him the JDU president post. He not only curtailed his emotions, but also averted a split in the party, otherwise dejected Lalan had other plans in his mind.
The decision was taken today in the party office during the national executive committee meeting in New Delhi.
Lalan who represents Munger Lok Sabha seat was the front-runner for the cabinet minister post in the Centre. However, RCP Singh, the then JDU president, upstaged him and got inducted into the Union Council of Ministers led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Since then Lalan was brooding and was unhappy with the party. He realised that RCP Singh did not bother about anyone else except himself during cabinet expansion. That was the reason why Lalan avoided congratulating RCP along with Nitish Kumar.
In fact, both Nitish and Lalan had openly issued a statement that RCP took the decision in the capacity of JDU president to join Modi's cabinet because he was authorised to take the final call on the names.
However, the decision later became a matter of criticism as JDU had accepted the old offer. The same old offer was earlier rejected by Nitish himself in 2019 when NDA had formed the government at the Centre.
The plot to remove RCP was formed only after he accepted the berth in Modi's cabinet because a message had gone wide and clear that RCP bargained with BJP only for his promotion.
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With this decision, Nitish not only calmed down Lalan but also sent a strong message that it would be hard for any leader within the party to surpass him.
There was a time when Lalan made a veiled attack on Nitish by declaring that he would hurt Nitish's stomach. Afterwards, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad used to repeat it in every rally that Nitish has a problem with his stomach.
Though Lalan had betrayed Nitish and led a strong anti-campaign against him, in politics, it is rightly said that there are no permanent enemies and friends.
Apart from being close to CM, Lalan also got the reward for perfectly executing several plans of Nitish. Be it breaking the LJP or Congress in Bihar, Lalan has played a pivotal role.
It is also for the first time that a leader from the upper caste has been given the post of the JDU president ever since the party was formed on October 30, 2003. The first president of the party was Sharad Yadav then Nitish Kumar himself, RCP and now Lalan.
The RCP tenure lasted for just seven months as he was made the JDU president in December 2020. Nitish had given up the post after facing a below-average performance in the 2020 assembly election bringing the party to third position in the state.
Upendr Kushwaha was also in the race for the top post in the party but in the backdrop of the cabinet expansion, Nitish was left with no choice fearing revolt within the JDU if Lalan would have been sidelined.
Even political expert Dr Sanjay Kumar opines that Nitish was forced to take this decision because he has no other option except to choose him as JDU president.
“Lalan Singh was equally strong contender along with RCP for a berth in Central cabinet but he could not make it. Nitish Kumar has realised that Lalan will not allow things to go so easily. Nitish had smelled that something may happen in the party if his anger would not be curtailed. So, the decision of making him JDU president is nothing but to stop a revolt of sorts within JDU. There would have been a situation of rebellion in the party, if Lalan would not have been made the JDU president, "Dr Sanjay stressed.
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He further said that Lalan would not be able to emerge as the leader of the caste which he belongs to because people do not accept him as the leader of the Bhumihar community.
“Lalan Singh has not gained acceptance among his own caste because he seldom mixes up with others. Except for Nitish, he has not shown loyalty towards others in his own caste. He is also an introvert. Though for the first time, a leader of the upper caste has occupied the top post, Nitish will not get any benefit. In terms of wooing the upper caste vote because that is already in the folder of BJP. Nitish has also tried to break the perception of Luv-Kush which the opposition always accuses him of,” Dr Sanjay said.
Meanwhile JDU workers, leaders and supporters celebrated the occasion in the party office in Patna by distributing sweets and playing musical bands.
From now onwards, it would be interesting to see how Lalan takes the the party ahead. However, he has earlier served as state president of the JDU.
