Bihar: Umesh Kushwaha to remain JD(U) state chief

PATNA: JD(U) leader Umesh Kushwaha is all set to continue as the state president of his party as he was the sole contender for this post while filing his nomination papers on Saturday. The party will formally announce his name as the state president following the meeting of the state council on Sunday.
While interacting with the media after filing his nomination, Kushwaha thanked chief minister Nitish Kumar and his party national president Rajiv Ranjan Singh, alias Lalan Singh for picking him as the candidate for state president.“I am thankful to both the leaders for picking a party worker like me as the candidate. I am thankful to all other leaders as well as the workers of the party,” said Kushwaha, who for the first time was made the state president in January previous year after the then president Bashishtha Narain Singh stepped down citing his health issues.
After the formal announcement of the state president, ruling JD(U) will move ahead with the process of electing its national president.
JD(U) national general secretary Afaque Ahmad Khan said the notification for the election of national president will be issued on November 28, after which the nomination can be done till December 4. Last date of withdrawal will be December 5 and if necessary, polling will be done on December 9.
The formal announcement of the name will be done in the meeting of the national council scheduled for December 10 at the party office. On December 11, JD(U) will have its open session at Shri Krishna memorial Hall in the state capital.