Patna: Former Union minister and former Janata Dal (United) national president RCP Singh failed to meet Former Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar on Saturday after waiting for around 10 minutes at the latter’s official residence.
RCP Singh arrived with around 20 to 25 supporters. According to those present, Nitish Kumar briefly acknowledged Singh’s greeting from a distance before returning inside without holding any discussion.
The development comes amid months of speculation over Singh’s possible return to the JD(U), a party he once helped lead before his expulsion in 2022.
आज बिहार के पूर्व मुख्यमंत्री ,जनता दल (यूनाइटेड)के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष एवं राज्य सभा सांसद, हमारे नेता आदरणीय नीतीश बाबू से भेंट हुई। उनसे बात चीत हुई। मुलाक़ात बहुत आत्मीय रही। pic.twitter.com/LBCwAJ0Jhy
— RCP Singh (@RCP_Singh) June 27, 2026
Supporters Raise Slogans After Meeting Does Not Materialise
Following the brief encounter, RCP Singh left the residence without meeting Nitish Kumar.
One of Singh’s supporters alleged that JD(U) MLCs Sanjay Gandhi and Lalan Saraf prevented them from meeting the chief minister. The allegation has not been officially responded to by the JD(U).
Supporters accompanying Singh raised slogans against the two MLCs before leaving the premises.
Speculation Over Return to JD(U)
The latest development follows months of political speculation surrounding RCP Singh’s future.
The discussion began after both Nitish Kumar and RCP Singh attended a Dahi-Chuda feast organised by the Patel Seva Sangh on January 11. Although the two leaders did not meet at the event, Singh described Nitish Kumar as “like a guardian” and credited him with carrying out “historic” development work in Bihar.
He also referred to their 25-year association. When asked whether he would rejoin the JD(U), Singh declined to give a direct answer, saying only, “You will find out soon.”
Mixed Signals From JD(U)
On January 14, JD(U) MLA and former minister Shyam Rajak publicly said that the party’s doors remained open for RCP Singh.
However, senior party leaders largely avoided commenting on the issue.
Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, rejected the possibility on January 18, stating that there was no place in the party for “the person responsible for bringing the party’s tally down from 72 to 42 seats.”
The remark referred to the JD(U)’s performance in the 2020 Bihar Assembly election, when the party won 43 of the 115 seats it contested, down from its 71-seat victory in 2015. RCP Singh had overseen ticket distribution during the 2020 election.
From Trusted Aide to Political Fallout
RCP Singh was long regarded as one of Nitish Kumar’s closest political associates. He served as JD(U) national president and became a Union minister during the expansion of the Narendra Modi government in July 2021 under the party’s quota.
Relations between the two leaders deteriorated after differences emerged over his induction into the Union Cabinet. According to political accounts, Nitish Kumar was unhappy with the circumstances surrounding Singh’s appointment.
After Singh’s Rajya Sabha term ended in July 2022, the JD(U) did not renominate him, leading to his resignation from the Union Cabinet. He was subsequently removed from the party and later joined the BJP.
Allegations Made by JD(U) in 2022
Following his exit, the JD(U) released a 35-page internal report alleging irregularities in land purchases involving RCP Singh’s family.
The report claimed that between 2011 and 2022, Singh’s wife and daughters acquired dozens of land parcels, primarily in Nalanda district’s Asthawan and Islampur blocks. The party questioned the transactions and alleged that certain land acquisitions had not been disclosed in Singh’s election affidavit.
The report detailed multiple purchases made in the names of Singh’s wife, Girja Singh, and daughters, Lipi Singh and Lata Singh, and raised questions about the sequence of several property transactions.
RCP Singh denied wrongdoing at the time, while no court has established the allegations made in the party’s internal report.
Political Significance
Saturday’s unsuccessful meeting nevertheless drew attention because of Singh’s past role in the JD(U) and continuing speculation over Bihar’s political alignments ahead of future elections.
Neither Nitish Kumar nor RCP Singh has issued an official statement on the incident. While some JD(U) leaders have described interactions between political leaders as routine, the episode has once again fuelled debate over whether Singh could eventually return to the party or whether the encounter will remain politically inconsequential.
