Nitish Kumar Elected Unopposed as JD(U) President

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was elected unopposed as national president of the Janata Dal (United) party on Tuesday, March 24, in New Delhi, securing the position for another term amid preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The election process concluded without contest after no other candidates filed nominations by the deadline of March 22. Kumar's nomination, submitted on March 19 by working president Sanjay Kumar Jha and several senior leaders including Bihar Rural Development Minister Shrawan Kumar, underwent scrutiny on March 23. The withdrawal deadline passed at 11 a.m. on March 24, leaving Kumar as the sole contender and eliminating the need for a scheduled vote on March 27. Returning officer Aneel Prasad Hegde, a former Rajya Sabha member, issued the certificate of election at 2:30 p.m. during a ceremony at the party's central office. Attendees included Jha, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, and other senior figures.

This marks Kumar's fourth stint as party president, a role he first assumed in April 2016 after Sharad Yadav's departure amid internal differences. He was reelected in 2019 but resigned in 2020, paving the way for RCP Singh,...