JD(U) Names Sanjay Jha as Working President, Pushes For 'Special Status' For Bihar at Key Meet

New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led  Janata Dal (United) on Saturday held its national executive meeting in the national capital where Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Jha was named as party's working president. During the key meeting, the party leaders reiterated their demand seeking special category status for the state, sources said. 

The special category status demand for Bihar by JDU holds significance at this time because  party supremo Nitish Kumar extended his support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP for forming government at the Centre. JDU holds 12 seats in the newly- elected Lok Sabha. 

The Centre could also consider an alternative in a special package, party's senior leader Neeraj Kumar told PTI. 

The key ally of BJP also sought stringent action against culprits in exam paper leak cases and called for a strong law to curb exam irregularities.
Party sources said Jha was well-suited to draw a good deal from the BJP and maintain a friendly relationship between the two parties, which have a history of bumpy ties. 

Following his appointment, Jha said that PM Narendra Modi always paid attention to Bihar and that he is hopeful that the party's demand for special category status or a package for the state would be met. 

Nitish Kumar, Union ministers Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur and other senior leaders also attended the meeting.