‘This is Absolute Nonsense’: Amidst Buzz on JD-U Rift, Lalan Singh Denies Resigning as Party President

Editor

posted on 4 months ago — updated on 1 second ago

24
views

As the opposition INDIA bloc approaches the crucial seat-sharing stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, speculations are rife over Nitish Kumar’s call for a central committee meeting on December 29 amid murmurs of friction in Bihar’s ruling JD-U

Amidst wide speculation over JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan aka Lalan Singh’s resignation from his party post, Singh has denied such claims by a section of media and termed them ‘Faltu Khabar’ (nonsense) in an exclusive interaction with News18.

Three days ahead of the central committee meetings of JD (U), scheduled to be held in Delhi, on December 29, it was reported in the section of media that Singh has tendered his resignation, which is yet to be accepted by party president and chief minister Nitish Kumar.

“Does anyone have a copy of my resignation letter? From where did they come to know things that I even don’t know. This is absolute nonsense,” Singh told News 18.

Claims and counter-claims over an alleged rift between Nitish Kumar and one of his close aides and colleagues, Lalan Singh, have been doing the rounds over the past week. As the opposition INDIA bloc approaches the crucial seat-sharing stage for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, speculations are rife over Nitish Kumar’s call for a central committee meeting on December 29 amid murmurs of friction in Bihar’s ruling JD (U).

Senior leaders, who are close to Nitish Kumar, however, dismissed the news about the “rift” between the leaders, and said they are the “closest” friends. “We are expecting some shake ups in the party structure and we may also see a new strategy to be adopted before the crucial election. However, the central committee meetings are not about national president Lalan Singh. None of them has ever mentioned such things to us. Everyone is only making conjectures,” said a senior leader of JD(U) on condition of anonymity.

The party leaders are taken aback by the attitude of other constituents of the INDIA coalition. “We all agree that our primary goal is to defeat BJP. Our leader, Nitish Kumar ji, has contributed most for the goal. But we, as his colleagues and the member of the party, expected a respectful position and political recognition for him in the alliance. That did not happen, which underwhelmed all of us. He has been a prime mover for the alliance, and he along with Lalu ji played the most important role in coordinating and getting all stakeholders to the table,” said the leader.