Although former minister and MLA Alok Mehta, known for his close proximity with Lalu family, is the front runner, the prospect of his holding the post somewhat suffered after Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted his premises in connection with a money laundering case, related to a bank fraud case.Although Mehta, who served as revenue and land reforms department minister in the grand alliance government, has not been convicted in the case, RJD may avoid picking him for the post to avoid any attack from the NDA on this issue in an election year. Speculations are also rife that senior leader and former minister Mangani Lal Mandal may also be appointed as the state RJD president as he comes from Vaishya community, which is known as traditional voters of BJP.Mandal is tipped to join RJD shortly after quitting his present party, JD (U). State RJD secretary general and MLA Rajvijay Sahu may also be considered for the post as the party may zero in on his name to woo Vaishya community. Similarly, the party may pick party MLA Mohammad Israil Mansuri for the post to consolidate its Muslim votes ahead of the assembly election. Other names doing the rounds for the post of state RJD president are Kumar Sarvjeet Singh who belongs to Paswan caste (scheduled caste) and Shivchandra Ram who is from Ravidas community. Now all eyes are set on the executive committee meeting of the party to be held on January 18.
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