JD(U) President Lalan Singh Resigns, Nitish Kumar Becomes Chief Again

New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) national president Rajiv Ranjan, also known as Lalan Singh in political circles, resigned on Friday amid speculations of a rift in the party. The move came on the day the JD(U)’s central committee met in Delhi.

Minutes after Lalan Singh announced his resignation, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was appointed the party’s president.

Lalan Singh, in his presidential address during the JD(U) executive meeting in Delhi, stated that he wants to focus more on the upcoming elections and is therefore stepping down from the position. He then proposed Nitish Kumar as his successor for the party’s top role.

Notably, Lalan Singh’s resignation came amid speculations that Nitish was unhappy with the former JD(U) for not “coordinating” with the members of the INDIA bloc ahead of the high-staked 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Singh’s resignation came a day after Nitish Kumar debunked the ongoing speculations of clash between the two and said that JD(U)’s two-day conclave in Delhi was a “normal” and “annual affair”. Speaking to reporters before leaving for the national capital, Nitish Kumar on Thursday said, “These meetings take place every year. It’s normal, there is nothing specific at all. These are routine meetings.”