Meet JD(U)’s 12 new MPs: old hands to ministerial aspirants, socialists to EBC, OBC, upper caste faces

The Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) has proved to be a game-changer for the BJP-led NDA in Bihar. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was being written off ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, has returned to the centre stage of national politics, with his party bagging 12 seats out of the 16 it contested in Bihar. With the BJP falling short of the simple majority mark of 272, it will have to lean heavily on its NDA partners, especially key allies like the JD(U) and the TDP, to steer its government at the Centre. Here is a look at the profiles of 12 new JD(U) MPs, who are expected to play a significant role in the ruling camp now:

The 69-year-old four-time MP, Rajeev Ranjan Singh, popularly known as Lalan Singh, has won from the Munger constituency. He had also represented the Begusarai seat once, between 2004 and 2009. The former JD(U) national president and Bihar minister, Singh had been among Nitish’s closest aides for many years. Groomed as a leader under socialist icon and ex-CM Karpoori Thakur, Singh had recently seemed to have fallen out with Nitish because of his alleged proximity to RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav.

He had also courted controversy for his tiff with former JD(U) leader RCP Singh, who had become a minister in the previous Narendra Modi Cabinet. An upper caste Bhumihar leader, Singh is known for his political acumen. He is said to be a front-runner among the newly-elected JD(U) MPs for a berth in the new Modi-led NDA Cabinet.

Ajay Kumar Mandal, 53, has won from the Bhagalpur seat for the second consecutive term. He is an EBC (Extremely Backward Class) Gangota leader, whose support base is spread along the Ganga riverine belt. Earlier, he had also represented the Nathnagar and Kahalgaon seats.

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