Lalu Prasad set to be re-elected RJD national president

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad on Monday filed the nomination papers at the party office here for re-election as the party’s national president. He was the only candidate to file nomination.

The former Bihar Chief Minister filed the papers in four sets before national election officer Dr. Ramchandra Purve and national assistant election officer Chittaranjan Gagan.

Each set has the signatures of 10 members of the party’s national council, including former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, Leader of the Opposition Tejaswi Yadav, RJD state president Mangani Lal Mandal and Rajya Sabha members Dr. Misa Bharti and Manoj Jha.

If all goes well, Mr. Prasad will become the party chief for a 13th term as he has held the top post ever since the party was formed in 1997 after a split in the then Janata Dal.

After the nomination, Tejashwi Yadav, Mr. Prasad’s younger son and former Deputy Chief Minister, told the media, “Today Lalu Prasadji has filed his nomination papers for the post of RJD national president. There is a wave of happiness among party leaders and workers. I fully trust that under the leadership of Laluji we will win the upcoming assembly election.”

Mr. Prasad posted a message on X saying, “Today, I filed my nomination for the president’s post at the party office.”

Mr. Gagan said that the nomination papers will be scrutinized on June 24 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and withdrawal of nomination is scheduled between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. the same day.

“If the nomination is found correct and the name is not withdrawn, then by 3 p.m., a notification will be issued regarding Mr. Prasad’s unopposed election to the post of national president of RJD,” Mr. Gagan said.

He further said, “The certificate will be handed over along with a formal announcement in the meeting of the national council organised at Bapu Sabhagar in Patna on July 5, 2025. Thereafter, an open session will be held under the chairmanship of the newly elected president in which the proposals presented by the national executive committee will be discussed.”

At the RJD state council meeting, Tejashwi Yadav said that outgoing state president Jagdanand Singh should get a responsibility at national level.

Mr. Singh has been with the RJD for the past 28 years and is the most trusted lieutenant of Mr. Prasad. There is a murmur in the party that in days to come Mr. Singh may be given the post of RJD working president, keeping Mr. Prasad’s health in mind who recently turned 78.