Patna: Political circles in Bihar are abuzz with speculation that former JD(U) national president and ex-Union minister RCP Singh may be preparing to join Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj party, in what could mark a significant political realignment ahead of the 2025 assembly elections.
Singh is expected to clarify his position during a media interaction scheduled for Sunday, adding fuel to growing rumours of his possible shift to Kishor’s political platform. If confirmed, Singh would become the second former JD(U) president to part ways with the party and join another outfit — following in the footsteps of Sharad Yadav, who left JD(U) to align with the RJD.
Though Singh distanced himself from JD(U) some time ago, his political journey has seen its share of turbulence. Once a close confidant of Nitish Kumar, Singh served as a Union minister in the Modi government’s previous term, controversially entering the cabinet without JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar’s explicit endorsement. This decision strained ties within the party, eventually leading to his marginalisation. Nitish Kumar later nominated Khiru Mahato from Jharkhand to the Rajya Sabha, sidelining Singh further.
Attempting to carve out his own political space, Singh launched his party, Aasa (Asha and Social Upliftment), seven months ago, ambitiously declaring plans to contest 140 seats in Bihar. However, his efforts to mobilise support, including a missed-call campaign in his home turf of Nalanda, have yielded limited traction.
Observers suggest Singh now seeks a stronger ally to sustain his political ambitions, with Prashant Kishor emerging as a potential partner. Both leaders share a past association with JD(U) and Nitish Kumar — Singh having served as the party’s national president and Kishor as its national vice-president during their respective tenures.
Analysts see a possible RCP Singh-Prashant Kishor alliance as an attempt to capitalise on the anti-establishment space in Bihar politics, offering an alternative narrative to the Nitish-led JD(U) and the opposition RJD-BJP rivalry.
