On Thursday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar avoided addressing inquiries regarding widespread speculations of a significant organizational shake-up within his party, Janta Dal (U). This comes ahead of a pivotal two-day party conclave scheduled to commence in Delhi later in the day. The JD (U) supremo in a brief interaction with journalists before boarding his flight to Delhi asserted that the party meet in Delhi was normal.
These meetings take place every year. It’s normal there is nothing specific at all. These are routine meetings, said the CM when journalists sought his views on rumours of major organisational change in JD(U) during the two-day party conclave. His statement was made against the backdrop of swirling rumors suggesting that Nitish Kumar's crucial aide, Rajiv Ranjan Singh Lalan, has conveyed his desire to resign from the position of JD(U) national president.
The CM evaded a direct reply when asked whether Lalan was likely to make a formal offer of his resignation at the JD(U)’s crucial meetings scheduled in Delhi on December 29. The CM also evaded questions about rumours of his joining NDA.
His attention was also drawn to a claim of senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, who as a former deputy CM had known Kumar from close quarters, that the JD(U) supreme leader was growing uneasy with his party chief’s closeness with his ally, and fearing sabotage.