Stories
Nitish's Trusted IAS Officers: The Shifting Politics of RCP Singh and Manish Verma
- •Nitish Kumar, CM of Bihar for 20 years, was known for his elusive personality and ability to outmaneuver political rivals.
- •Two former IAS officers, RCP Singh and Manish Verma, were once considered Nitish's closest aides and potential successors.
- •RCP Singh, an Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, joined JDU at Nitish's behest, rose to national president, and served as a Union Minister before being sidelined.
- •Manish Verma, an Odisha cadre IAS officer, also joined JDU at Nitish's insistence, becoming national general secretary, but his political activity was suddenly curtailed.
- •Both RCP Singh and Manish Verma, once central figures, are now in political wilderness, with RCP trying to return to JDU and Verma maintaining silence.
Key Questions Answered
RCP Singh left the JDU in 2022 after the party sought clarification from him regarding property-related allegations and internal disputes following a drop in assembly seats. Although he wants to return to the JDU and met with Nitish Kumar in June 2026, senior leaders like Lalan Singh stated the party does not need him, making his return paths appear closed.
Manish Verma left his IAS career after taking VRS around 2021 and joined the JDU at Nitish Kumar's insistence, eventually becoming the national general secretary. While he remains active in an organizational role, he has become largely distant from major political decisions and keeps a low, silent profile.
Following political changes in 2026 when Nitish Kumar stepped down as Chief Minister, the JDU is firmly controlled by working national president Sanjay Jha and Union Minister Lalan Singh. Sanjay Jha's strong grip within the organization is further evidenced by his proposal to rename the party to Janata Dal Nitish.
