Nitish takes reins of JDU in run-up to 2024 elections

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar took over the reins of the Janata Dal (United) on Friday, months ahead of the general elections, and the party announced that he will lead seat-sharing talks with the 28-party INDIA bloc and campaign across the country beginning January.

- Vijay Swaroop

Kumar was named the party chief at meeting of top leaders after member of Parliament Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh, quit the post, ending days of speculation about the latter's growing proximity to ally Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Kumar's name was later endorsed by the party's national council. "I have accepted the responsibility and we will work together," said Kumar in a brief media interaction.

Senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said the party cleared four proposals the demand for a national caste census, authorising Kumar to negotiate with allies in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), starting his countrywide campaign with Jharkhand from January, and to give Kumar full powers for organisational revamp.

"Nitish Kumar is the convener and prime minister of ideas of the INDIA alliance," Tyagi said, adding that the CM remained undecided on whether he will contest the Lok Sabha polls. It was a curious choice of words at a time when there have been reports that Nitish was upset after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's name was proposed as the group's PM face in their meeting earlier this month. Nitish later denied that he was unhappy.

The change of guard comes just months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled next summer and at a time when the 28-party INDIA bloc is looking to speed up seat-sharing talks.