Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, July 31
Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, a member from the Bhumihar caste, would be the new chief of Janata Dal (United) or JDU.
The appointment is significant as he will be the first leader from the upper Bhumihar caste to become JDU chief. Former state president of JDU, 67-year-old Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Saturday replaced Union Steel Minister R C P Singh as President of the National JDU.
RCP proposed the name of Lalan Singh at the national executive committee of the JDU held in New Delhi. The Steel Minister was appointed president of the party six months ago by Nitish Kumar, the then National President of JDU, who offered to quit the party office under the one man, one post formula.
RCP Singh, a former principal secretary to the then Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, is from Kurmi caste and from the same district of Nalanda.
Earlier, political stalwarts like George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav and Nitish Kumar had led the JDU and all were from the non-upper castes.
Lalan was upset for the last few weeks as he was denied a berth in the Union cabinet and RCP had taken oath ignoring his claim. Lalan Singh represents Munger constituency in the Lower House of Parliament. He had been MLC, MLA and member of Rajya Sabha too. He was also PWD and irrigation minister in Nitish Kumar led cabinet.
The then Chief Minister, Jeetan Ram Manjhi, had recommended his dismissal from the Cabinet to the Governor and this led to Nitish Kumar deciding to remove Manjhi from the post.
Lalan was instrumental in getting the fodder scam investigated by the CBI. He was one of the petitioners in Patna High Court demanding CBI probe against the then Chief Minister, Lalu Prasad, who was convicted and jailed in the case.
