Patna: Former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Shyam Rajak’s growing influence within the Janata Dal (United) has become a hot topic in Bihar’s political circles. Having recently joined JDU after leaving RJD, Rajak is now being tipped as a potential candidate for a ministerial post in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s cabinet. However, in order to achieve this, Rajak will first need to secure a seat in either the Bihar Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council.
When Rajak left the RJD, he had vowed to work tirelessly in the interests of his new party. His swift rise within the JDU was marked by his appointment as the party’s national general secretary shortly after joining. Rajak has since expressed his dedication to expanding JDU’s reach among Dalits and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), emphasising the importance of inclusive representation.
The rumour mill intensified after Rajak’s recent visit to Jharkhand, where he spoke about the need to establish an NDA government in the state. Although Rajak does not hold the official charge of Jharkhand for the JDU, his increasing visibility is seen as an indication of his elevated status within the party. His visit coincided with the absence of Ashok Chaudhary, a senior minister and JDU’s in-charge of Jharkhand, who is currently abroad.
Political observers in Bihar are closely watching developments, as discussions on the expansion of Nitish Kumar’s cabinet have gained momentum. BJP leaders recently met with JDU officials to discuss the potential reshuffle, with speculation that two new ministers could come from the JDU and several others from the BJP.
Rajak’s extensive political career, which dates back to 1995, adds weight to the rumours. He has previously served as a minister in both the Lalu-Rabri government and Nitish Kumar’s administration. After initially joining the JDU in 2009, Rajak served as Bihar’s industries minister in 2019. However, he resigned from the Nitish cabinet in 2020 and re-joined RJD, before eventually returning to JDU earlier this year.
According to political commentator Sanjay Upadhyay, the timing of the cabinet expansion could be crucial. Expanding the cabinet too close to the upcoming elections may not yield significant gains for Nitish Kumar among the Dalit vote, a key constituency in the state. Upadhyay notes that Nitish will need to contend with prominent Dalit leaders Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi, both of whom command considerable influence among Bihar’s 16 per cent Dalit electorate.
Upadhyay further pointed out that neither the BJP nor the JDU has successfully nurtured a strong second-line leadership, leaving Nitish Kumar as the dominant figure within the alliance. Rajak’s inclusion in the cabinet could serve as a strategic move to strengthen the JDU’s position among Dalit voters ahead of the elections.