The Janata Dal (United) appointed its Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha as the new working president of the party in the National Executive meet here in New Delhi. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to continue as JD(U) chief.
Besides this change of guard, the party has decided to further escalate its agitation for securing Special Category Status to Bihar. Having sensed this demand from the State, a resolution was adopted by the state Cabinet in 2023, which clearly states bridging the economic and developmental disparity between the State and the Center. If granted this special status, this would increase the sharing of the taxes for Bihar from the Centre.
JD(U), which is part of the NDA, contested 16 seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Bihar and won on 12 fronts. The success will now turn into a bargaining tool for party leaders to mount pressure on the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for special status, which has been its long-standing demand.
Other deliberations at the meeting included closer scrutiny of the results of the recent Lok Sabha elections and preparation for Assembly elections to be held in different states over the medium term. Presided over by CM Nitish Kumar, the attendance included all party MPs and senior leaders and a clear backing was given for a united approach towards facing the future electoral challenges.
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