JD(U) Appoints Sanjay Jha as Working President, Calls for Special Status for Bihar at Executive Meeting

In a significant move, the Janata Dal (United) has appointed Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha as the party’s working president. Despite this new appointment, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will continue to serve as the national president of the party.

Sanjay Jha’s Strong Ties with BJP

Jha’s appointment is seen as important because of his strong relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership. He also serves as the party’s leader in the Rajya Sabha. According to party insiders, Jha is well-positioned to negotiate favorable deals with the BJP and maintain a friendly relationship between the two parties, despite their past differences.

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JD(U) Calls for Strict Action on Exam Paper Leaks and Special Package for Bihar

During the meeting, the JD(U), which is a key ally of the BJP in the current Lok Sabha, demanded strict measures against those responsible for exam paper leaks. They called for a strong law to prevent such incidents in the future. Additionally, the party’s national executive passed a resolution seeking special category status or a special financial package from the central government for Bihar.

The meeting in Delhi was attended by Bihar CM and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, Union ministers Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur, along with other senior leaders from across the country.

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Nitish Kumar’s Return to NDA

Nitish Kumar returned to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and took oath as Bihar CM with BJP’s support after leaving the alliance and joining the Rashtriya Janata Dal-led ‘Mahagathbandhan’ in August 2022. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, JD(U) contested in alliance with the BJP. The BJP-led NDA performed well, winning 29 out of the 40 seats. Both BJP and JD(U) won 12 seats each, while LJP (Ram Vilas) secured all five seats it contested. The RJD and Congress won four and three seats, respectively.