Former Janata Dal (United) president RCP Singh met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the latter's official residence in Patna on Saturday, sparking speculation of a political rapprochement between the two leaders who had been estranged for years.
Meeting details and atmosphere
Singh, a former bureaucrat-turned-politician, described the meeting as "cordial" and said his association with Kumar spanned 25 years. In a post on X, he wrote: "Had an affectionate meeting with respected Nitish Babu." He further claimed that Kumar's "body language suggested that he was happy to see me." The meeting lasted about 30 minutes, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Political context and past rift
RCP Singh served as the JD(U) president until 2022 when he resigned following differences with the party leadership. He later joined the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in 2023 but has been politically inactive since. His meeting with Kumar comes amid reports of growing discontent within the JD(U) over the party's alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar. Political analysts view this meeting as a potential precursor to Singh's return to the JD(U) fold.
Impact on Bihar politics
The development has fueled chatter about a possible realignment of political forces in Bihar ahead of the 2025 assembly elections. A senior JD(U) leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "RCP Singh is an experienced leader and his return could strengthen the party." However, the BJP's state unit has remained cautious, with a spokesperson stating that "any decision on Singh's re-entry will be taken by the party leadership." The meeting also comes at a time when Kumar has been actively consolidating his support base, having recently met with leaders from various castes and communities.
