Premium
This is an archive article published on May 11, 2023

Ex-Nitish confidant R C P Singh joins BJP, slams his Opp unity bid

Differences had arisen between Singh and Nitish over a berth in the Union Cabinet; BJP hails Singh as significant EBC leader in Bihar

Nitish KumarSingh, the bureaucrat-turned-politician, who did not take any question, did not speak on his relations with the JD(U), which he had once headed but left in disgrace, and the BJP, which he joined a year ago, only to remain sidelined. (Facebook/RCP Singh)
Listen to this article
Ex-Nitish confidant R C P Singh joins BJP, slams his Opp unity bid
x
00:00
1x 1.5x 1.8x

NINE months after R C P Singh, a former JD(U) president and Nitish Kumar confidant, quit the party, he joined the BJP in Delhi Thursday.

After Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan welcomed him into the BJP, Singh lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “work for the poor” and “overall leadership of the country”.

He went on to slam Nitish, accusing him of compromising with crime and corruption in his pursuit of “kursi (chair)”, calling the JD(U) supremo a “paltimaar (one who makes frequent U-turns)”, and warning that he would be left with “nothing” in Bihar.

Story continues below this ad

Singh, an IAS officer-turned politician who served as Union minister before he lost his Rajya Sabha membership as the JD(U) refused to nominate him for a fresh term, mocked Nitish’s attempts at forging unity among Opposition ranks. As Bihar Chief Minister, he had the mandate to work for the state’s development, but spent his time travelling as part of this unite Opposition mission, Singh said.

BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan lauded Singh as having played “a key role in strengthening the JD(U) in the state”, and said he enjoys credibility among the extremely backward sections in Bihar.

BJP OBC Morcha national general secretary Nikhil Anand said it would be wrong to dismiss the significance of the development. “Singh’s electoral importance may well be debated but one must not forget that he was the national president of the JD(U) besides being a Union minister,” Anand said, adding that his exit was another example of the JD(U) not treating its national presidents well, right from George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav to Singh. “RCP is a great addition for us.”

Singh left the JD(U) in August 2022 soon after the party sought an explanation from him on allegations of corruption over properties acquired by him and his family since 2013. He rejected these allegations as a bid to humiliate him.

Story continues below this ad

Before he fell from grace, R C P Singh – or Ram Chandra Prasad Singh – had made a steady but silent rise into Nitish’s close circle, keeping a low profile. The only instance observers in Patna could recall at the time of his being vocal was when poll strategist Prashant Kishor briefly challenged his authority as de facto No. 2 to Nitish.

An Uttar Pradesh-cadre IAS officer, Singh first came in contact with Nitish when he was posted as private secretary to then Union minister Beni Prasad Verma in 1996. Nitish and Singh are said to have bonded over the fact that both come from Nalanda district in Bihar and are both Kurmi (as was Verma). Nitish was also said to have been impressed with Singh’s acumen as a bureaucrat.

When Nitish became Union railway minister, Singh became his special secretary, later following the JD(U) leader through his various portfolios.

After Kumar became the CM in November 2005, Singh moved to Bihar. He came to play a key role in postings, and as Nitish’s principal secretary, was seen as the CM’s voice. Soon, Singh’s influence extended to the JD(U).

Story continues below this ad

In 2010, Singh took voluntary retirement from the IAS and was nominated by the JD(U) to the Rajya Sabha. He was renominated in 2016. During this time, the only instance of Singh feeling a challenge to his position was when Kishor shot up in the JD(U) like a meteor, and burnt out as quickly.

As organisational general secretary of the party, Singh is known to have not taken kindly to the political strategist, appointed JD(U) vice-president, meeting party leaders. The emergence of a second power centre apparently with the blessing of Nitish was noted by all. Eventually, Singh prevailed and Kishor exited.

During the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, Singh had run into a spot of controversy two days before the first phase of voting, after a violent clash during immersion of a Durga idol left one dead in Munger, allegedly in police firing. Singh faced violent protests when he visited Begusarai, with the Opposition raising the fact that Singh’s daughter Lipi Singh was the SP of Munger. The Election Commission later moved Lipi Singh out.

The falling out between Singh and Nitish is believed to have happened during the Cabinet formation of the second Modi-led NDA government. Nitish, who had refused to join the first Modi government, pondered changing his mind in 2019, but reportedly wanted berths for two — for Singh as well as his other long-time lieutenant, Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh. When that didn’t come through, the JD(U) stayed out.

Story continues below this ad

In the 2021 Modi Cabinet expansion though, R C P Singh surprisingly found a place as Union steel minister. He reportedly forwarded his name without Nitish’s consent, an unforgivable transgression in the party where Nitish’s writ runs supreme.

In August 2022, Nitish parted ways with the BJP, returned to the side of the RJD.

Senior JD(U) leader and former Rajya Sabha MP K C Tyagi said that Singh joining the BJP has put “unfaithfulness to shame”. “He was a bureaucrat with zero electoral value and yet Nitish Kumar gave him power and position. But the person ditched all of us. The BJP will not gain anything by getting the RCP into its fold.”

Latest Comment
Post Comment
Read Comments
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement