The political landscape of Bihar witnessed a historic moment as former Union Minister Nagmani switched parties for the 14th time on Tuesday, embarking on yet another chapter in his political career. This move has sparked widespread discussion and debate across the state. Known as the ‘Lenin of Bihar,’ Nagmani has seemingly been associated with almost every political party in the region, leaving his mark not only in Bihar but also in the central government.
Prior to the Bihar Assembly elections, Nagmani left Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj and aligned himself with the BJP. This marked his second stint with the BJP, in addition to earlier affiliations with the RJD, JDU, and Congress, each for two separate terms. His political journey has seen him associated with a diverse range of parties, including the Congress, RJD, JDU, RLSP, NCP, and even the BSP. Furthermore, Nagmani’s political agility extended to forming his own parties on multiple occasions, subsequently merging them into other established political entities.
Nagmani’s political career began with his election to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1977. He initiated his journey with the Shoshit Samaj Dal, a party founded by his father. Since then, he has been a prominent figure in Bihar politics, adeptly adapting to the evolving political environment and frequently changing parties as deemed necessary.
From the Shoshit Samaj Dal, Nagmani’s political trajectory encompassed affiliations with the Congress, Janata Dal, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party, Lok Janshakti Party, Janata Dal United, the Congress again, Nationalist Congress Party, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, followed by the JDU and the Bharatiya Janata Party, strategically aligning himself with political trends.
Throughout his career of party-hopping, Nagmani also established his own political parties on at least two occasions. In 2015, he founded the Samras Samaj Party and formed a Socialist Secular Front in collaboration with the Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Jan Adhikar Party, National People’s Party, and Samajwadi Janata Dal Democratic. However, in 2017, he merged his Samras Samaj Party with Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, where he was appointed as the National Executive President. Later that year, Nagmani also formed the Shoshit Inquilab Party, intending to establish it as a viable political alternative in Bihar. Despite the initial ambition, this venture dissolved when the Shoshit Inquilab Party merged with the Bahujan Samaj Party.
Nagmani stands out as one of the few leaders in Bihar to have served as a member of all four legislative bodies: the Assembly, the Legislative Council, the Rajya Sabha, and the Lok Sabha. He also held a ministerial position in the central government, serving as the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment in the Atal Bihari government in 2003.
RCP Singh, another prominent leader known for changing parties, transitioned from a bureaucrat to a politician. He left his IAS career to join the JDU, where he rose to become the party president under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. He later served as the Union Minister of Steel in the Modi government, although relations with Nitish Kumar subsequently soured.
Following the deterioration of his relationship with Nitish Kumar, RCP Singh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, his tenure with the BJP was short-lived. He later launched his own party, Aap Sab Ki Awaaz, and recently merged it into Jan Suraaj. Currently, RCP Singh is focused on developing a strategic plan for Jan Suraaj in preparation for the upcoming assembly elections.
Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, a key figure in CM Nitish Kumar’s party and one of his closest allies, has also been identified as a politician who has shifted parties to suit his convenience. After the death of his father in 1982, Vijay Chaudhary resigned from his government job and contested the assembly elections from Dalsinghsarai on a Congress ticket. He served as an MLA from 1983 to 1995 and was also the leader of the Congress Legislature Party. While he lost elections in 1995 and 2000, he later became the General Secretary of the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee from 2000 to 2005. In 2005, he joined the JDU and is now considered one of its most influential leaders.