In a surprising turn of events, former Jehanabad Member of Parliament, Arun Kumar, has rejoined the Janata Dal (United) after a period marked by his vocal criticism of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The re-induction took place on Saturday, October 11, 2025.
The 66-year-old political veteran was officially welcomed back into the party fold, accompanied by numerous supporters. Senior JD(U) figures, including working president Sanjay Kumar Jha, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’, and State unit chief Umesh Kushwaha, were present at the event.
During the ceremony, former JD(U) national president Lalan expressed optimism, stating, “We just witnessed Arun Kumar and Chandeshwar Chandravanshi share a warm hug. They are poised to create a significant impact across the entire Magadh region.” It’s noteworthy that Chandravanshi had previously defeated Arun Kumar in the 2019 elections for the Jehanabad seat by a narrow margin. This central Bihar constituency, currently held by the RJD, was initially secured by Arun Kumar for the JD(U) in 1999.
Known for his outspoken nature, Arun Kumar famously vowed to “break the ribs of Nitish Kumar” after his initial departure from the JD(U), a statement that garnered considerable media attention. He later reclaimed the Jehanabad seat in 2014, contesting under the banner of the RLSP, a splinter faction led by Upendra Kushwaha.
However, his alliance with Mr. Kushwaha was short-lived, leading him to establish his own political entity, the Bharatiya Sab Log Party. This new party struggled to gain traction in both the 2020 assembly elections and the recent Lok Sabha polls.
Observers view Arun Kumar’s return as a strategic move by the JD(U) to mitigate potential losses following the defection of another prominent upper-caste Bhumihar leader from Jehanabad, Rahul Sharma, who recently joined a rival party.
Mr. Sharma, a former JD(U) MLA representing Ghosi, made his official switch to the RJD on Friday, with Tejashwi Yadav present at the induction.
Rahul Sharma’s father, Jagdish Sharma, is a formidable political figure in the region, having represented Ghosi a remarkable eight times under various party affiliations, including as an Independent, and with the Janata Party, Congress, and BJP. He also notably secured the Jehanabad Lok Sabha seat for the JD(U) in 2009.