RCP Singh pitches to come back in JD(U)

Former Union Minister and estranged aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Ramchandra Prasad Singh, is hopeful that things will fall in the right place in the days to come. He also pitches to come back in Janata Dal (United).

Speculation to rejoin the party had arisen after both Mr. Kumar and Mr. Singh had attended a programme of the Kurmi community last month. The former IAS officer, Mr. Singh, in conversation with The Hindu, said that he never quit the party and having an experience with Nitish Kumar for nearly 25 year, his induction will benefit the party and organisation to grow.

He expressed his willingness to rejoin JD-(U). Earlier, the JD(U) had issued a show-cause notice following his proximity with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Later, Mr. Singh quit JD(U) in August 2022 and joined the BJP.

Mr. Singh said, “More than me, the JD (U) workers and party leaders are excited to see me in the party. If they want me to return to the party, do you think I should say no to them? I have been with Nitish ji for more than 24 years.”

Mr. Singh had resigned the party saying JD(U) is a sinking ship and Nitish Kumar will never become Prime Minister.

Mr. Singh explained that there is a good chunk of voters who neither want to go with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) nor with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“These voters always want to go with Nitish ji, and JD(U) is my natural place as I have worked in the party and in the organisation. You can only do politics where like-minded people are there. Today’s politics is alliance politics, where things change according to the situation, but the social combination in JD(U) suits people like us. The best part of JD(U), there is no extremism.” Mr. Singh said.

Mr. Singh was once considered close to the Chief Minister as they both hailed from the same district, Nalanda. The former Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer has served in different capacities in the past and on central deputation. He first came in contact with Mr. Kumar, then the Railway Minister.

He was Principal Secretary to Bihar CM when Mr. Kumar came to power in Bihar in 2005. In 2010, he took voluntary retirement and joined JD(U) and went to Rajya Sabha twice.

Two senior JD(U) leaders have been openly opposing the return of RCP Singh into the party, which included JD(U) leader and Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and Bihar Minister Shravan Kumar.

Mr. Rajeev Ranjan Singh had asserted that there was no need for a person responsible for bringing down the party’s tally, whereas Mr. Shravan had asserted that the party does not need a leader who earlier questioned the health of the CM and his leadership.

Asked about the possible reason for Mr. Rajeev Ranjan Singh and Mr. Shravan opposing his entry, Mr. Singh said, “Everyone has their own opinion, but I have worked with both of them, and I do not have any problem with anyone. I had a very good relationship with both Lalan babu or Shravan Ji. My presence will benefit the party, and the organisation will be strengthened because I believe in hard work. If the organisation will be strengthened, they are the one whose power will increase.”

The bitterness started in 2021, when RCP was inducted into the Narendra Modi cabinet, which did not go down well with Mr. Kumar and suspected him of being with the BJP, also planning a sabotage.

Then Mr. Singh was made to step down as national president of JD(U) within months of becoming the party president, and denial of another Rajya Sabha term a year later caused him to give up the ministerial berth.

In October 2024, RCP formed his own political party Aap Saabki Aawaz (ASA) in October 2024, however ahead of the assembly election, in June 2025 RCP merged his party into Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party.

Mr. Singh’s younger daughter, Lata Singh, unsuccessfully contested the Assembly election from Asthawan Assembly seat in Nalanda district. She managed to get only 15962 votes.