PATNA: Infighting within the Janata Dal (United) in Bihar has once again come to the fore as the party issued a show cause notice to its senior leader and former Union minister RCP Singh for allegedly amassing huge amounts of property between 2013 and 2022, and not declaring those in his poll affidavits.
Singh has been asked to immediately respond to the notice.
The show cause letter, issued by state JD(U) president Umesh Kushwaha on August 4, said, “A complaint has been received with evidence from two associates of Nalanda District Janata Dal (U). The complaint mentioned discrepancies in immovable properties registered from 2013-2022 in his name (RCP Singh) and that of his family were noticed,” the show case notice read.
“You have served as an officer and party worker with the party’s leader Nitish Kumar for a long time. The JD (U) leader made you a Rajya Sabha MP twice, party general secretary (organisation), national president and a minister at the Centre with full faith and trust. You are aware of the fact that the leader has zero tolerance for corruption,” the notice said.
“Despite being in public life for so many years, there is no allegation against him and he didn’t amass wealth,” it said.
“As directed, the party expects you to immediately submit a reply about your clear opinion point-by-point on the points of complaint,” the letter concluded.
Singh, who was once a confidante of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, recently stepped down as Union minister after the party denied him third term in the Rajya Sabha.
The tensions between Singh and the party started after he accepted a Cabinet berth without the consent of the chief minister, who has been opposed to the BJP’s offer of one berth in the Cabinet.
According to party leaders, Singh was tasked to get more berths for the party in the Union Cabinet.