Bihar’s Rajiv Ranjan, popularly known as Lalan Singh, stands out among the list of newly elected MPs invited to the oath-taking ceremony on Sunday, and is likely to be inducted into the Modi 3.0 cabinet. A seasoned politician and veteran MP from the JD(U), he has weathered significant political turbulence.
Despite being a confidant of Bihar’s chief minister Nitish Kumar, the 69-year-old leader was rumoured to be on the verge of quitting the party in protest of the decision by his boss to switch allegiance from the INDIA bloc to the NDA last December. There was much speculation that he might resign and join the rival RJD, led by Lalu Prasad Yadav. But, his journey from being a BJP-baiter to joining the Narendra Modi-led cabinet has been politically fascinating.
Journey from ‘BJP-baiter’ to Union Cabinet
The Bhumihar leader has always been Nitish Kumar’s strength, as this community in Bihar is known to have wide political influence despite its small size when compared to Yadavs and other dominant castes. Senior politicians of the state said the community is one of the most vocal and has its own ecosystem to control political highs and lows as well as motivate other caste groups.
In December, amid wide speculation that he may resign from the post of JD(U)’s national president, he denied these claims made by a section of the media and termed them “faltu khabar” (nonsense) in an exclusive interaction with News18. The rumours came three days ahead of the central committee meetings of the JD(U).
“Does anyone have a copy of my resignation letter? From where did they come to know things that even I don’t know. This is absolute nonsense,” he had said then.
Claims and counter-claims over an alleged rift between Lalan and Nitish Kumar made headlines six months ago as the political equations changed in the following months. He was fielded by the JD(U) in Munger and is now a third-time MP from the seat.
Resilient and loyal JD(U) leader
Lalan’s previous victories came in 2009, 2019 and 2024, but when he lost in 2014, Nitish nominated him as an MP in the Rajya Sabha, while later he was also appointed the party’s national president. He belongs to the influential Bhumihar community of his state, and has demonstrated resilience and loyalty to his party.
His perseverance and patience through political turbulence has now positioned him for a significant role in the new cabinet, marking a notable chapter in his political journey. According to sources, out of all the JD(U) MPs in the list of probables, Lalan is likely to be the one to get a cabinet berth with independent charge.
The power of Bhumihar
Government records show that Bhumihar, a small Hindu caste group consisting around 3 to 4 per cent of the population, wields a strong influence over Bihar’s caste equations. It is a prominent upper-caste community primarily involved in agriculture and landholding.
Bhumihars are considered part of the Brahmin varna in the traditional Hindu social hierarchy and are known for their significant socioeconomic and political influence in the region. They claim descent from Brahmin priests who took up agriculture and became landowners.
Over time, they established themselves as one of those distinct landholding communities in Bihar. The caste group is believed to have played a significant role in state politics, as they have produced several prominent political leaders and have considerable clout in governance.
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