RCP Singh New JD(U) Prez; KC Tyagi Criticises ‘Love Jihad’ Laws

RCP Singh, a bureaucrat who entered politics, was so far the general secretary of the JD(U).

RCP Singh and Nitish Kumar.

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter)

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s close confidante RCP Singh on Sunday, 27 December, was appointed the new president of Janata Dal (United). Addressing the press, following this announcement, party spokesperson KC Tyagi also discussed the defection of six JD(U) MLAs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Arunachal and lamented the new ‘love jihad’ laws being brought by BJP governments in various states.

Meanwhile, reports say that Nitish Kumar had suggested Singh for the top post.

A senior leader told PTI that other members approved RCP Singh’s name in a national executive meeting.

RCP Singh, a bureaucrat who entered politics, was so far the general secretary of JD(U). His appointment comes as the three-year JD(U) president Nitish Kumar relinquished the post.

The JD(U) held its national executive meeting to discuss issues related to the country's current political situation, after six out of the party's seven MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh switched over to the BJP, The Times of India reported.

Sources claimed that West Bengal polls were also discussed in the meeting.

JD(U) Upset With BJP Over MLA Defection in Arunachal, ‘Love Jihad’ Laws

JD(U) is part of the opposition in Arunachal Pradesh, while its Bihar ally – the BJP – is the ruling party.

Following a crossover of six JD(U) MLAs to the BJP, party spokesperson KC Tyagi said, “This is not good for the alliance. They (BJP) should adopt Atal Bihari Vajpayee's dharma.”

According to NDTV, Tygai also said that the JD(U) was hurt by this move of the BJP.

“Our party’s leader had a word with (BJP chief) JP Nadda. He had said the MLAs must be included in the cabinet but the BJP included them in the party. The JD(U) is hurt with this.”   

KC Tyagi, according to NDTV   

The movement of six JD(U) MLAs to the BJP will diminish JD(U)’s significance in the Arunachal Assembly.

The JD(U) also expressed its unhappiness with the BJP’s move to criminalise interfaith marriage with a new legislation in several states of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, and said:

“There have been attempts to divide the society, this is not right.”

“An atmosphere of hatred and division is being created in the country in the name of ‘love jihad’. Provisions of the Constitution and CrPC give freedom to two adults to choose life partners of their choice irrespective of one’s religion, or caste.”

KC Tyagi, according to ANI

'Not Our Fault': BJP

According to NDTV, BJP’s Renu Devi, who is also one of Nitish Kumar’s deputies asked what could their party have done if legislators wanted to join them.

"We had not poached them (JD(U) MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh). What could our party have done if some legislators voluntarily expressed desire to join us?”

Further, Devi claimed that developments in Arunachal would not have any consequence on the alliance in Bihar.

NDA in Bihar

2020’s Bihar Assembly elections threw up a curious mandate.

On the one hand, the NDA, which Nitish Kumar leads, won a wafer-thin majority getting 125 seats – just three over the halfway mark of 122. On the other hand, Kumar's own party, the JD(U), has fallen to 43 seats, reduced to the number three position in the state for the first time.