Former Union minister Ramchandra Prasad Singh, widely known as RCP Singh, is reportedly poised to rejoin Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)), according to sources close to the party. This potential return comes after a year-long stint with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj, during which Singh’s political influence failed to make a significant impact. Party insiders say his re-entry could strengthen the organisational framework of JD(U) and shape succession discussions within the party.

JD(U) leaders stated that Singh has expressed his willingness to rejoin the party he helped build alongside Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over more than two decades. The decision ultimately rests with Kumar, who is carefully weighing both organisational needs and political optics before making a final call.

Speculation about Singh’s return gained momentum after he and Kumar attended a Kurmi community function in Patna on Sunday. Although the two did not meet directly at the event—Kumar left early and Singh arrived later—slogans were reportedly raised by attendees calling for RCP Singh’s return. A JD(U) insider, requesting anonymity, explained that there is a recognition within the party that someone with Singh’s organisational experience is vital, particularly amid ongoing discussions about leadership succession and the future of the party.

RCP Singh has long been a trusted aide of Nitish Kumar, with a career that intertwines closely with Bihar politics. He first worked with Kumar in 1998 when the latter was Union Railway Minister and later served as Kumar’s principal secretary from 2005 to 2010 after voluntarily retiring from the Indian Administrative Service. Singh then became a Rajya Sabha member from 2010 to 2022 and was appointed Union Steel Minister when JD(U) returned to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance in 2021.

However, Singh’s political ascent was not without controversy. His rising influence in JD(U) reportedly created friction with Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lallan Singh, the then-national president of JD(U). In August 2022, RCP Singh was expelled from the party for allegedly attempting to split JD(U) and for his perceived closeness to the BJP. The expulsion also meant he was not renominated to the Rajya Sabha, effectively ending his tenure as Union minister.

Following his exit from JD(U), Singh joined Jan Suraaj ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yet, his stint there failed to yield notable electoral or political success, and insiders now say he considers his long-term political future inseparable from Nitish Kumar’s party. “He has spoken to almost all senior leaders. Everyone is aware that he wants to return. The matter is now with Nitish Kumar,” noted a party official.

Political analysts suggest that RCP Singh’s potential return is significant not just for his own career but also for JD(U) at large. Patna-based analyst Dhirendra Kumar said, “With Nitish Kumar’s health and the question of long-term leadership in JD(U) under scrutiny, the party is contemplating the need for experienced hands to steady the organisation. The parallel push to promote Nitish’s son, Nishant Kumar, has complicated the succession narrative. For RCP Singh, returning to JD(U) would not only restore his political visibility but also place him back at the centre of Bihar’s power politics.”

Singh’s comeback, if confirmed, would be seen as a strategic move by Nitish Kumar to consolidate support within the party and bring back an experienced leader capable of managing organisational and electoral challenges. It could also signal a recalibration of alliances and influence among senior party leaders as JD(U) positions itself for the coming assembly elections and navigates internal succession planning.

For RCP Singh, the re-entry into JD(U) would mark a full-circle moment in a political journey that has seen highs as a Union minister and trusted aide, and lows following expulsion and a failed independent political venture. Party observers suggest that his return would reaffirm Nitish Kumar’s approach of prioritising experienced leadership to maintain party cohesion and strengthen JD(U)’s standing in Bihar’s dynamic political landscape.