After Nitish Kumar, who? JDU holds organisational polls amid turmoil

The Janata Dal (United) began organisational elections on Friday, even as the party grappled with internal turmoil following Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s decision to head to Parliament.

Umesh Singh Kushwaha, the incumbent Bihar chief and an MLA from the Mahnar Assembly constituency, was the only candidate to file nomination papers for the post of state unit president. All signs point to his being re-elected unopposed.

The two-day internal polls come in the wake of JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar filing his nomination for the Rajya Sabha, marking a seismic shift in Bihar politics and bringing the curtain down on his tenure as the state’s longest-serving Chief Minister.

Kumar announced his decision through a post on X, catching many JD(U) workers off guard and triggering protests within the party ranks.

At the JD(U) state office in Patna, located across the road from the BJP’s state headquarters, angry party workers continue to stage protests on Friday. Some accused senior leaders of conspiring with the BJP to edge Nitish Kumar out of Bihar politics.

Protesters alleged that “traitors” within the party had worked with the BJP to sideline Kumar, who they said had become an “eyesore” for the powerful liquor lobby after introducing prohibition in the state.

A day earlier, vandalism was reported at the party office as workers vented their spleen, alleging that the BJP had hatched a “conspiracy” to oust Kumar and form its own government.

After filing his nomination, Umesh Singh Kushwaha sought to calm the situation and urged party workers to accept what’s already happened.

“I filed my nomination on the instructions of Nitish Kumar,” Kushwaha said. “I appeal to everyone to respect Nitish Kumar’s decision.”

Kumar’s move to the Rajya Sabha has also fuelled speculation about a political realignment in Bihar. The development is widely seen as paving the way for the BJP to install its own chief minister in the state. Bihar is the only major Hindi heartland state where the saffron party has so far not held the top post on its own.

The possibility gained ground after the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats in the assembly elections held less than four months ago, outperforming JD(U) for the second time in a row.

The political churn has also brought Kumar’s family into focus. Just days before the Rajya Sabha move, the veteran leader announced the political entry of his son Nishant Kumar, despite his distaste for dynasty politics.

Party insiders say Nishant could be made the next JD(U) chief, a move seen as an attempt to keep the party intact once Kumar steps away from active state politics.

- Ends

With PTI inputs