R.C.P. Singh meets Nitish Kumar, fuels JD(U) return speculation

Former Union Minister Ramchandra Prasad Singh on Saturday (June 27, 2026) met Janata Dal (United) National President and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at his residence in Patna after nearly four years, fuelling speculation about his return to the party. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Singh said his meeting with Mr. Kumar was cordial and took place in a heartfelt manner.

In January 2026, both Mr. Kumar and Mr. Singh had attended a programme of the Kurmi community. However, there was no interaction between them. This time, Mr. Kumar gave him an appointment at his official residence at 7, Circular Road, where he met Mr. Singh, who had quit the JD(U) in August 2022 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Asked about returning to the JD(U), Mr. Singh said, “That would be discussed later, today was the first day and I just went to meet him after four years. His body language was good. As you know that I have worked with Nitish babu for nearly 25 years and my base would remain my old party where I have spent the maximum time of my political career. One thing I must say is that Nitish babu’s body language was really good during the meeting.”

The former IAS officer asserted that he never quit the party and that his relationship with Mr. Kumar was always good and would remain so in future as well. Earlier, two senior JD(U) leaders, Union Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh and Bihar Minister Shrawon Kumar, had openly opposed Mr. Singh’s return to the party.

Mr. Singh was once considered close to Mr. Kumar, now a Rajya Sabha member, as both hail from Nalanda district. The former Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer served in various capacities before joining the Centre on deputation. He first came in contact with Mr. Kumar when the latter was Railway Minister. He later served as Principal Secretary to the Bihar Chief Minister after Mr. Kumar assumed office in 2005. In 2010, he took voluntary retirement from the IAS, joined the JD(U), and was elected to the Rajya Sabha twice.

The differences between the two began in 2021 after Mr. Singh was inducted into the Narendra Modi Cabinet. The development reportedly did not go down well with Mr. Kumar, who suspected him of aligning with the BJP. Within months of becoming JD(U) national president, Mr. Singh was replaced in the post. A year later, he was denied another Rajya Sabha term, following which he resigned from the Union Cabinet.

In October 2024, Mr. Singh floated his own political outfit, Aap Saabki Aawaz (ASA). Ahead of the Assembly election, in June 2025, he merged the party with Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party.

Later, speaking to a news agency, Mr. Singh was asked about Mr. Kumar’s health. He said the former Chief Minister responded promptly when greeted with folded hands. He also praised Mr. Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, and said he was doing well as Health Minister in the National Democratic Alliance government led by Samrat Choudhary.

“I used to call him Nishi and he has no vested interest. He has been given a big responsibility and he wants to assure that better health facilities reach every house in both rural and urban areas. He has just started working and will learn slowly and gradually,” Mr. Singh said.

Sources in the party said Nishant Kumar had played a key role in facilitating Mr. Singh’s meeting with his father and was among those in the JD(U) who favoured Mr. Singh’s return to the party.