Delhi, 24 March (H.S.): Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was formally elected unopposed as the national president of the Janata Dal (United) on Tuesday, marking his fifth consecutive term at the helm of the party.

The announcement came hours after the nomination withdrawal deadline passed at 11 am, with party national general secretary Mohammad Nisar confirming no other candidates had entered the fray.

Returning officer Aneel Prasad Hegde, a former Rajya Sabha MP, issued Kumar's election certificate at 2:30 pm at the party's central office here, in the presence of senior leaders including JD(U) working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, Union minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, and Bihar minister Shrawan Kumar.

Kumar's nomination had been filed on Thursday, March 19, by Jha and 10 other leaders, ahead of the March 22 filing deadline and March 23 scrutiny. This smooth transition underscores his unchallenged grip on the party ahead of key political battles, building on his takeover from Lalan Singh in December 2023 before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar