Old rivalries put JD(U) in a spot: Rift between Lalan Singh & RCP runs deep

Lalan accused RCP of controlling people's reach to Nitish Kumar

Janata Dal (United) National President Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, on January 22 called a press conference to announce the party’s intention to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls on its own.

“We had authorised (Union Steel) Minister RCP Singh to negotiate with the BJP leadership. He assured the party the central leadership (of the BJP) was agreeable to an alliance. Due to this we waited this long. Had this (about not joining hands) been conveyed to us earlier, we would have contested more seats, and with greater strength,” he said.

“The party had given mantriji the task of making an alliance, but he failed,” Lalan told reporters. “He kept telling us the talks were on, but we didn’t get any positive response from the BJP. Only he can tell about the earnestness with which he tried.”

Lalan might be unhappy with the BJP, but it was clear he was unhappier with his party colleague. “The old animosity between the two most trusted lieutenants of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is out into the open,” said a senior JD(U) leader

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Old rivals

The rift between Lalan and bureaucrat-turned-politician Ramchandra Prasad Singh (or RCP, as he is called in the power corridors of Patna) runs deep. RCP’s proximity to the Bihar chief minister and in turn Kumar’s dependence on the Rajya Sabha MP regarding administrative matters fuelled Lalan’s rebellion against Kumar in 2010.

Lalan accused RCP, then principal secretary to the chief minister, of “controlling people’s reach” to Kumar. He also termed him the “epicentre of corruption” in Bihar. Kumar took him to task for these.

In 2010, RCP took early retirement from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and went to the Rajya Sabha on JD(U) nomination.

Kumar and Lalan patched things up in 2013. RCP and Lalan played a key role in Kumar’s return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2017. However, the rift resurfaced last year after RCP became Union minister with Cabinet rank.

Before the Union Cabinet expansion, the names of both were doing the rounds for a ministerial position. However, on July 7, 2021, only RCP was inducted into the Cabinet and given the steel portfolio. Some of Lalan’s loyalists accused RCP of doing “secret deals” with the BJP. In a bid to mollify him, Lalan was made JD(U) national president.

To exhibit their strengths, the followers of Lalan and RCP tried to outdo each other in hosting receptions for their leaders when they reached Patna in August after getting their new jobs. RCP did not feature on the welcoming posters for Lalan, and those in honour of RCP returned the compliment.

In September, just a month after being appointed party chief, Lalan removed all 40 people in charge of the parliamentary constituencies in the Bihar and dissolved 32 cells of the JD(U). These cells had been created by RCP. Others considered close to the Union minister were shunted out of the party headquarters in Patna. 

Current war

The Union minister has so far not reacted to Lalan’s press conference. His official Twitter handle is silent these days.

Leaders close to the former bureaucrat, however, said the recent comments would put RCP and his followers in a spot. “The comments were not in good taste and this situation could have been avoided. This will widen the rift between upper castes and backward castes in the party,” said a JD(U) leader.

Others point to the growing mistrust between major NDA partners in Bihar. Kumar had indirectly blamed the BJP for not doing enough to rein in Chirag Paswan, the Lok Janshakti Party chief who turned against him. “Some people succeeded in spreading the confusion,” Kumar told media persons in November 2020.

The Bihar chief minister is yet to comment on the matter.