Former Union Minister and ex-Janata Dal (United) president RCP Singh has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi today. Singh’s exit from JDU came after the party issued a notice to him last year over allegations of corruption. He was asked to file his reply at the earliest. Singh resigned from the party after the notice was issued to him.
Singh accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of betraying him and called him “Paltimar” (a turncoat). He also alleged that Kumar was more interested in garnering support from opposition parties to become the Prime Ministerial candidate instead of fulfilling his responsibilities as the Chief Minister of Bihar.
Last year, Kumar accused BJP of trying to isolate JDU by making Singh the Eknath Shinde of Bihar. In 2022, Kumar left BJP and formed a ‘mahagathbandhan’ with Tejashwi Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, and other parties to govern Bihar.
Singh joined BJP in Delhi today and expressed his support for the party. A notice was issued to him by JDU last year over discrepancies in immovable properties registered in his name and that of his family. Two associates of Nalanda District Janata Dal (U) had submitted a complaint with evidence of the alleged discrepancies.
Singh’s move to join BJP is expected to strengthen the party’s position in Bihar, where it has been trying to gain ground after losing power in the state in 2015. The development comes ahead of the Assembly polls in Bihar next year, which are expected to be fiercely contested by all political parties.