PATNA: Bihar’s main opposition party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal, received yet another major setback on Thursday when its national vice-president Raghuvansh Prasad Singh resigned from the party.
Singh has apparently been miffed with the party’s functioning for quite some time, but it’s the proposed entry of his arch rival Rama Kishor Singh, who had defeated him in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Vaishali, that reportedly proved to be the proverbial last straw.
In his resignation letter to jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad, Singh wrote that he stayed with him (Lalu) for 32 years,“…but not now… now forgive me”.
Lalu, however, has sought to placate an ailing Raghuvansh and has written to him saying that he wanted to discuss the matter once the leader recovers and is discharged from hospital.
At present, Singh is admitted at AIIMS-Delhi after he developed pain in the chest.
“My family, I and the entire RJD family wants you to get well soon and discharged from the hospital. In the last four decades, we have resolved all political, social and family matters together. First you get well soon, then we will discuss the issues once again,” Lalu said in his letter. Citing ‘family relations’, he further said that “it is for sure that you are not going anywhere from RJD”.
Singh, a former Union minister who had always been the party’s trouble shooter, had in June expressed unhappiness over some of the new inductions and had offered to resign, but continued following the assurance that Rama Singh would not be inducted into the party.
However, a few days ago, Rama Singh’s name was tossed up as the party candidate from Lalganj assembly seat. Raghuvansh had also expressed his displeasure when the party had made businessman AP Singh its candidate for Rajya Sabha polls.
With Singh’s resignation, eight MLA, MLCs and former MP have quit the RJD ahead of polls in Bihar and seven of them have joined the JD-U. Reacting on the resignation, JD-U leader Lallan Singh said RJD does not value even a senior most leader like Raghuvansh. Though no official statement came either from Singh or the JD-U, it is learnt that Singh may join the ruling party after he is discharged from AIIMS.
Lalu’s Man Friday
A mathematics professor in Sitamarhi district, Raghuvansh Prasad Singh entered politics as socialist leader.
Came in contact with Karpoori Thakur and went to jail in 1973 during the United Socialist Party movement.
Was jailed again under MISA during JP movement in 1974.
Elected to Lok Sabha for first time in 1996 from Vaishali.
Was Union minister for rural development from 2004 to 2009.
Lost to Rama Singh of LJP in 2014 LS election from Vaishali.