Mangani Lal Mandal set to become RJD state president
Rashtriya Janata Dal
(RJD) on June 19. He was the sole candidate to file nomination papers for the post on Saturday in the presence of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, former chief minister Rabri Devi, Pataliputra MP Misa Bharti and leader of the opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav.
Mandal, who hails from the Dhanuk caste within the extremely backward classes (EBC), represents a community that constitutes 36% of Bihar's population. His elevation is widely seen as a strategic move by the RJD to consolidate EBC support ahead of the election. He rejoined hands with Lalu only in Jan this year. Mandal will be the first RJD state chief from the EBC community.
RJD national assistant election officer Chittaranjan Gagan said Mandal's nomination papers would be scrutinised on Sunday.
Tejashwi said Mandal had long been associated with his father, Lalu Prasad. "We are all happy that today Mangani Lal Mandal has filed his nomination for the post of state president. As an associate of Karpoori Thakur, he has played an important role in promoting social politics," Tejashwi said.
Mandal had earlier represented Jhanjharpur in the Lok Sabha and has served as a member of both the Rajya Sabha and the Bihar legislative council.
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He was also a minister in the RJD-led govt in Bihar. He succeeds Jagadanand Singh, who had asked the party leadership to relieve him from the post citing poor health.
Mandal is expected to help strengthen the RJD's influence in the districts like Samastipur, Darbhanga, Madhubani and Muzaffarpur, areas where the Mahagathbandhan performed poorly in the 2020 assembly elections, winning only 13 out of 41 seats.
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