Among BJP’s 43, Jharkhand sangathan mantri Rajendra Singh joins Narendra Modi’s league

PATNA: The first list of BJP's 43 candidates included Rajendra Singh, a full-timer from the RSS who is ‘sangathan mantri' (organising general secretary) of BJP's Jharkhand unit. He oversaw BJP's Jharkhand election victory last year as organising general secretary. Singh, a native of Rohtas district, will contest the Dinara assembly constituency in the district.

Rajendra Singh was one of the four commanders BJP president Amit Shah had selected in July for ensuring BJP's victory in the Bihar assembly polls. Rajendra Singh is in charge of the party's Patna- Magadh division comprising 58 assembly segments spread across nine districts. BJP has divided the state into several sectors and has deputed senior leaders known for organisational skill.

Rajendra Singh's selection came as a surprise as very few organising general secretaries join the electoral fray. "Sangathan mantri is considered to be an important link between the BJP organisation and the RSS," a state BJP leader said on the condition of anonymity.



Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar are among the few who joined electoral politics after holding the post of organising general secretary. Rajendra Singh (49) was deputed to BJP about a decade back.

"Rajendra Singh is originally a product of ABVP, where he worked as organising secretary of ABVP's Kanpur unit. Later, Rajendra Singh worked for BJP as its organising general secretary in Kashi and Awadh regions in Uttar Pradesh also," a source in Uttar Pradesh BJP recalled.