NEW DELHI: A subtle yet decisive transformation is unfolding within the Janata Dal (United), where Sanjay Jha has swiftly emerged as the party’s second-most powerful figure after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Insiders reveal that Jha is increasingly perceived as the central authority within the JD(U), with Kumar himself openly endorsing his decisions, leaving no room for dissent against his leadership inside the organization With his influence expanding at an extraordinary pace, Sanjay Jha has placed himself firmly at the heart of the JD(U)’s preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. No longer confined to being just an advisor or a behind-the-scenes strategist, Jha is now widely acknowledged as the key architect of the party’s electoral game plan.
His role is not limited to consultation; he is expected to exercise commanding authority in the crucial matter of ticket distribution—a process that often determines both the morale of party cadres and the overall performance of candidates at the grassroots. The responsibility is of such magnitude that it has compelled even the most seasoned leaders, many of whom once saw themselves as power centers in their own right, to ensure they remain in Jha’s good books.
In hushed conversations across the party corridors, his word is described as final, with rivals and allies alike conceding that his approval or disapproval can make or break political careers. “At present, every leader in the JD(U) is bending over backwards to keep Sanjay Jha satisfied, fully conscious of the fact that his recommendations will carry an extraordinary and possibly decisive weight when the final list of candidates is prepared,” a senior insider of the party confided to The Sunday Guardian. This has made Jha not just a trusted lieutenant of Nitish Kumar, but also the pivot around which the party’s immediate electoral future revolves.
Alongside Jha, former JD(U) national president Lalan Singh continues to retain significant authority. As one of the most seasoned leaders of the party, Singh is kept informed of every major development and remains a key figure in shaping the JD(U)’s overall campaign blueprint. Together, Nitish Kumar, Sanjay Jha, and Lalan Singh now represent the core axis around which the JD(U) leadership and strategy revolve.
By contrast, K.C. Tyagi—once hailed as the backbone of the party and among its most trusted leaders—has witnessed a sharp decline in stature. Previously considered a close confidant and the national spokesperson of the JD(U), Tyagi has gradually been sidelined in recent years, with Rajeev Ranjan Singh taking over his spokesperson’s responsibilities. “Bit by bit, he has lost the stature and authority he once firmly commanded,” a party source explained.
A political analyst who follows Bihar politics closely told the publication that as the Bihar elections approach, this restructuring of power within the JD(U) highlights not only the consolidation of Nitish Kumar’s circle of loyal lieutenants but also the generational shift that has increasingly relegated veteran leaders like Tyagi to the sidelines.
In this evolving hierarchy, Ashok Choudhary—the influential Rural Works Minister of Bihar and a close confidant of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar—remains another key player in the JD(U). Owing to his proximity to the CM, Choudhary enjoys considerable say in decision-making. In fact, he is among the select few who regularly sit with Nitish Kumar during the planning and implementation stages of crucial strategies, with the Chief Minister himself rating him very highly.
