In a major political reunion in Bihar, causing as much sensation as during the rift two years ago, chief minister Nitish Kumar has managed to bring back to his side the rebel JD(U) MP and former state party chief, Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh.
The MP from Munger, a prominent upper-caste leader in the JD(U) still held in awe by many in the party for being Mr Kumar’s close confidant for a long time, was reportedly on the verge of joining the Congress before Mr Kumar persuaded him back. Mr Singh had accused Mr Kumar of being an “autocrat” and resigned from the JD(U) in February 2010, making the occasion coincide with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s hyped tour of Bihar to revive the national party in the state.
Sources in the JD(U) said Mr Singh, who had turned Mr Kumar’s bitterest critic and was suspended from the party in March 2011 along with three other JD(U) MPs for their alleged anti-party activities during the 2010 Assembly polls, is now likely to help the party garner crucial mass support for its mega rally slated for November. The rally aims at intensifying Mr Kumar’s campaign for special category status for Bihar. Ironically, Mr Singh had earlier said Bihar did not need any special package and the JD(U)’s signature campaign for special status was unnecessary.
“The reunion now awaits a formal announcement, which will happen once the two leaders get fully comfortable to their restored friendship,” said a senior JD(U) legislator close to both leaders. Talks of a rapprochement between Mr Kumar and Mr Singh had surfaced after the duo recently held a one-hour tete-a-tete over dinner at the opening ceremony of a Chinese restaurant in Patna.
Faced with Bihar’s upper castes feeling disenchanted with the JD(U)-BJP government, Mr Kumar reportedly wished to use Mr Singh’s proven organisational skills.