By Manoj Pathak

Patna, Dec 28 (IANS): With the ruling Janata Dal (United) going through a crisis in Bihar, the reins of the party have been entrusted to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's most trusted aide and former Indian Administrative Service officer R. C. P. Singh.

How well would Singh play the role of the JDU's 'Bigg Boss', only time will tell. But it is believed that strengthening the organisational structure and expanding the party to other states will be a major challenge for Singh.

Nitish Kumar has been the universally accepted and towering leader in the JDU. In such a situation, there are serious apprehensions whether Singh will be able to create his own image as an acceptable leader of the party. There are many strong leaders in the party who have the capability to take over the leadership reins. Will they accept Singh as their leader, is a question being asked.

The JDU, which was the largest party in Bihar, could only achieve the third position in the recently concluded Assembly polls. Singh had earlier earned praise for the role he played in the expansion and strengthening of the party.

In the JDU's National Executive meeting, the party had indicated that it no longer wants to be strong only in Bihar and passed a proposal regarding the JDU's expansion to other states on similar lines as in Bihar.

Former Bihar minister and Legislative Councillor Neeraj Kumar said, "Singh has been associated with the JDU for a long time and has played an important role in the organisation. His administrative experience and communication skills will prove to be very useful in the organisational development of the JDU."

A senior JDU leader said it was becoming quite a daunting challenge for Nitish Kumar to handle the dual responsibility of Chief Minister as well as party President. Change was considered necessary to give an opportunity to new generation leaders and to energise the party workers so entrusting the responsibility of leading the party was given to Singh.

Even when George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav were president of the JDU Nitish Kumar remained the most visible face of the party. Party leaders said that Kumar had taken the party to new heights.

From the start, Singh was seen as the successor of Nitish Kumar. Singh comes from the Kurmi caste and is one of Kumar's most trusted aides.

It is also considered a challenge for Singh to keep in step with the other political outfits who are part of the NDA alliance in Bihar. Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi said that under Singh's leadership the BJP-JDU political relations and alliance will be further strengthened.

Congratulatory messages have been pouring in after Singh became the party's National President, but it remains to be seen how he would deal with the upcoming challenges.