Ex-Bihar minister Shyam Rajak returns to JD(U)

Patna: Former Bihar minister Shyam Rajak on Sunday joined Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), less than two weeks after quitting the RJD headed by the CM’s arch-rival Lalu Prasad.

Rajak, who had been expelled from the state cabinet as well as the JD(U) in 2020, got re-inducted into the party here by national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, in presence of a number of top leaders.

Jha said the entry of Rajak, "a leader with grassroots-level support" will strengthen the party, "especially among the state's 'Mahadalits' who were recognised as a separate category by Nitish Kumar".

"Sub-categorisation of Dalits may have become a buzzword in the backdrop of the recent Supreme Court judgement, but our leader was the veritable pioneer. The presence of Rajak in our party will send across this message more forcefully,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajak said he had joined the RJD "in a fit of emotion" but ended up feeling "stifled and insulted" in the party, where "corruption and dynasty rule seem to be the guiding principles".

"The RJD is alleging that I have joined the JD(U) just because the party is in power. They need to remember that I had joined them giving up a ministerial berth. But, they let me down,” said Rajak, who had also served in the cabinet headed by Lalu Prasad's wife Rabri Devi.

The party-hopper is understood to have been sore over the RJD not considering him for a berth in the Rajya Sabha or the state legislative council, even though he was made to give up his Phulwari assembly seat in the 2020 polls because of the party's alliance with the CPI(ML)L.

After quitting the RJD, Rajak had dropped hints that he would like to try his luck again in the assembly polls due next year from the seat, which he has represented six times.