In a surprising move, Bihar’s Janata Dal-United (JD-U) announced the cancellation of its planned mega rally in Patna on January 24, intended to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of prominent socialist and EBC leader Karpoori Thakur. The decision follows the earlier deferral of Nitish Kumar’s Varanasi rally scheduled for December 24, raising speculation about potential changes in the party’s top organizational posts.
Umesh Kushwaha, leader of JD-U’s Bihar unit, formally announced the alteration in plans, citing advice from party leaders, the chief minister’s instructions, and the anticipation of a cold wave. Initially expected to draw a crowd of 3 lakh people, the Karpoori Thakur Jayanti program will now be organized at the district level.
Bihar minister and JD-U leader, Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, dismissed rumors of JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’ considering stepping down. He vehemently denied any truth to the swirling speculations about differences between Nitish Kumar and the party president.
“You speak of fissures in the JD(U). I say there is not even a scratch,” Chaudhary declared at the party office on Tuesday. He further emphasized that the JD-U national executive and national council meetings scheduled for December 29 were “long overdue.”
A senior party leader hinted that the cancellation of the January 24 rally anticipates “some important developments in the party,” suggesting the possibility of a change in party leadership.
The January 24 rally was significant for the JD-U, marking the conclusion of the ‘Karpoori Charcha’ initiative aimed at engaging people from extremely backward classes. This campaign was part of a series, including the ‘Bhaichara Yatra’ (reaching out to Muslims) and ‘Bhim Samvad’ (targeting Dalit voters), launched by the JD-U to mobilize support from key social groups.
The altered plans add intrigue to the political landscape, with observers keenly watching for potential shifts in the leadership dynamics of Bihar’s ruling party.
