The conclave of the JD(U)’s apex body also decided to appoint Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha, former state minister, as the party’s working president. This is a significant move in the run-up to the Bihar Assembly polls due in October-November next year.

While the JD(U) has been demanding a special status for Bihar for a long time and the issue has figured in its past resolutions as well, the addition of “special package” as an option this time is notable as it indicates that the party is willing to take a pragmatic approach on the issue, targeting what is “achievable”. It also shows that the party does not wish to push the Narendra Modi-led NDA government too hard as its major ally.

The JD(U)’s new working president, Sanjay Jha, denied that it was a “climbdown” from the party’s earlier demand of special status for Bihar.

“We all know that the Finance Commission has done away with the idea of ​​special status (for states). The purpose is that Bihar must get central assistance, whatever be the name (of the package). We will now pursue it with the central government. The PM has been focused on the development of eastern India. We are hopeful that the Center will consider our demand,” Jha told The Indian Express.

His appointment as Nitish Kumar’s No. 2 in the party is also significant as he is known to have good relations with the BJP and is likely to keep the NDA alliance in Bihar strong heading into the 2025 Assembly polls.

Before joining the JD(U) in 2012, Jha had been with the BJP. He is now likely to become the nodal person between his party and the BJP on a gamut of political affairs.

After the recent Lok Sabha elections, the JD(U) has emerged as a key ally of the BJP with 12 seats. The BJP, whose tally dipped below the majority mark to 240 seats in these polls, is critically dependent on the JD(U) and the N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP (16 seats) for running a stable government.

JD(U) national spokesperson KC Tyagi said, “Nitish Kumar in his address to the national executive meeting said that he would now always stay with the NDA and not join any other alliance.”

The conclave’s resolution also made this point, stating that “JD(U) believes in the politics of coordination and cooperation. This coordination and partnership with the BJP has lasted two decades which has become an example of a natural alliance in the form of the NDA”.

Nitish’s frequent flip-flops have hurt the credibility of the JD(U) in Bihar, with the party now aiming to reverse it by reassuring people that the former would not cross over to the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan alliance again.

“A big responsibility has been given to me by the JD(U) for which I am thankful to the party leadership. I hope I will be able to fulfill the expectations,” Jha said.

Jha’s appointment is also an attempt at caste balancing, where among the top leaders in the JD(U) and in the Modi ministry the party has representation from the Kurmi (Other Backward Classes) caste (in Nitish Kumar himself), Extremely Backward Classes or EBC (in Ramnath Thakur as Union Minister of State) and Bhumihar (upper) caste (in Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh as a Union cabinet minister). Jha’s inclusion will give representation to the Brahmins in the party’s top brass.

“In today’s situation, Bihar feels there is a need for special status or special package so that we can work more strongly for the development of millions of people of Bihar. Despite limited resources, Bihar has carried out many development works. Special status or a special package will ensure Bihar’s growth can be speeded up,” the JD(U)’s resolution said.

Referring to the raging row over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in exams like the NEET and NET, the party demanded a strong law to be passed by Parliament. “We believe there should be a thorough investigation into leaks of question papers of various exams and the culprits must be punished so that trust can be re-established in the examination system. The Parliament must pass a strong law against paper leaks so that those playing with the future of our students can be punished,” the resolution said.

The JD(U) also expressed concern over the Patna High Court’s recent verdict striking down the Nitish government’s November 2023 move, following its caste survey, to raise quotas for the SCs, STs, OBCs and EBCs from 50% to 65% in government jobs. and educational institutions.

The party resolution said the Nitish government has decided to challenge this order in the Supreme Court and that “the national executive urges the central government to… include this law (amended law hiking quota to 65% in Bihar) in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution ”. This Schedule contains a list of central and state laws which cannot be challenged in courts.

The resolution also flagged growing concern over rising inflation and unemployment in the country. It said the party believed the NDA would take effective steps to address these issues.

The JD(U)’s national executive meeting was attended by party ministers, legislators and senior leaders from across the country.