Former rivals, PK and RCP Singh reunite to challenge Nitish Kumar, merge parties ahead of Bihar polls

In a major political development in Bihar, two of Nitish Kumar’s former close aides — Prashant Kishor (PK) and RCP Singh — have buried their past differences and joined forces. Their merger, just months before the Bihar Assembly polls, is being seen as a direct challenge to the Bihar Chief Minister’s authority, particularly in his stronghold of Nalanda.

On Sunday, former Union minister and ex-JD(U) national president RCP Singh announced the merger of his Aap Sabki Awaaz Party (ASAP) with Kishor’s Jan Suraaj. Both leaders once held significant positions within Nitish’s inner circle but later parted ways amid differences. Now, united by a shared goal of dethroning the JD(U)-BJP combine, they have come together in a move that has sent shockwaves through Bihar’s political corridors.

RCP Singh, who like Nitish belongs to the influential Kurmi community, is known for his strong grassroots base in the Magadh region. His decision to align with Jan Suraaj could impact Nitish’s support among Kurmi-Koeri voters in districts like Nalanda, Arwal, and Jehanabad. Singh has been mobilising crowds across southern Bihar, and his public meetings in areas like Nawada and Nalanda signal a strategy to target Nitish’s political backyard.

Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor has intensified his campaign, even attempting to enter Nitish’s ancestral village, Kalyan Bigha, for a public signature drive protesting the government's alleged unfulfilled promises. Though stopped by authorities, the move was symbolic — a calculated strike at Nitish’s symbolic and political base.

With Nitish Kumar battling questions around his health, anti-incumbency, and a declining JD(U) performance, the PK-RCP duo could become a formidable third force. Their past roles — Singh as an organiser and Union minister, and Kishor as a political strategist — may now complement each other as they gear up to contest all 243 seats and sway disillusioned voters across the state.