:Janata Dal (United)

File:Nomination of Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha (1) 04.jpg, Umesh Singh Kushwaha and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary participating in nomination of party's national General Secretary Shri Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha to Bihar Legislative Council in 2024 alongside Bharatiya Janata Party state chief Samrat Choudhary and others.]]

The Janata Dal (United)'s origin goes back to the period before 1999 General Election. A faction led by then Chief Minister of Karnataka J. H. Patel had lent support to the National Democratic Alliance, leading to the split in the Janata Dal leading to the formation of Janata Dal (Secular) under H. D. Deve Gowda, who wanted to remain equidistant from both national parties; and Janata Dal under Sharad Yadav was called Janata Dal (United).{{Cite web |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jan/06jdu.htm |title=Samata Party breaks away from JD (U) |access-date=6 April 2020 |archive-date=6 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200406124329/https://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jan/06jdu.htm |url-status=live }}

The Janata Dal (United) was formed with the merger of the Sharad Yadav faction of the Janata Dal, the Lok Shakti and the Samata Party.{{cite news|last=Menon |first=Paravathi |title=Janata Parivar's home base |url=http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2108/stories/20040423006701900.htm |access-date=19 April 2012 |newspaper=Frontline Magazine |date=23 April 2004 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080103051657/http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl2108/stories/20040423006701900.htm |archive-date= 3 January 2008 }} On 30 October 2003, the Samata Party led by George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar merged with the Janata Dal. The merged entity was called Janata Dal (United) with the arrow symbol of Janata Dal (United) and the green and white flag of the Samata Party. The uniting force is believed to be common opposition to Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar especially after the Rashtriya Janata Dal welcomed Samata Party rebels like Raghunath Jha into the party.

File:Nitish Kumar sharing stage with legislators of Janata Dal United at party's headquarter on the occasion of state council meeting.jpg

JD(U) joined NDA and along with its alliance partner, the BJP defeated the RJD-led UPA government in Bihar in November 2005. New government was headed by JD(U) leader, Nitish Kumar and NDA continued to govern state. The alliance contested 2009 Indian general election and won 32 seats. BJP won 12 while JD(U) won 20.{{cite news|url=http://m.timesofindia.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-results-2014-JDU-RJD-decimated-in-Bihar/articleshow/35233557.cms|date=17 May 2014|access-date=30 May 2014|work=The Times of India|agency=TNN|first=Aditya|last=Vaibhav|title=Election results 2014: JD(U), RJD decimated in Bihar|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531090847/http://m.timesofindia.com/home/lok-sabha-elections-2014/news/Election-results-2014-JDU-RJD-decimated-in-Bihar/articleshow/35233557.cms|archive-date=31 May 2014}} JD(U) won 115 and BJP won 91 seats in 2010 Bihar Legislative Assembly election. Thus together holding 206 seats in 243 member Bihar Legislative Assembly.

JD(U) broke its 17 years old alliance with the BJP in Bihar in protest against the elevation of Narendra Modi as ahead of the election campaign committee of BJP for 2014 Indian general election. JD(U) President Sharad Yadav and then Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced their end of coalition at a press conference on 16 June 2013, exactly a week after Narendra Modi was made the BJP's campaign committee chairman, who was later made the prime ministerial candidate of NDA. Just after this split, Sharad Yadav relinquished his position as the NDA convenor.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jdu-severs-ties-with-bjp-on-modi-issue/article4820120.ece|title=JDU broke alliance with BJP on Modi issue|website=The Hindu|date=16 June 2013 |accessdate=9 July 2024}}

The JD(U) contested the election in Bihar in an alliance with the Communist Party of India but they won only two seats out of total forty seats of Bihar while the BJP-LJP alliance won 31 seats.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519040751/http://www.eciresults.ap.nic.in/PartyWiseResult.htm|archive-date=19 May 2014|url-status = dead|url=http://eciresults.ap.nic.in/PartyWiseResult.htm|title=General Election to Loksabha Trend and Result 2014|publisher=Election Commission of India|date=16 May 2014|access-date=19 May 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jdu-breaks-alliance-with-bjp/article4820120.ece|title=JD(U) severs ties with BJP on Modi issue|newspaper=The Hindu|date=16 June 2013|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531123933/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/jdu-breaks-alliance-with-bjp/article4820120.ece|archive-date=31 May 2014}} Following poor performance in election, Nitish Kumar resigned as Chief Minister of Bihar and Jitan Ram Manjhi sworn in as a new Chief Minister. When the trust vote was demanded by the BJP to prove majority in Bihar Legislative Assembly, the RJD supported the JD(U) in the assembly on 23 May 2014 to pass the majority mark.{{cite news|title=Lalu Yadav's Party to Support Nitish Kumar's JD (U) In Bihar Floor Test|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/lalu-yadav-s-party-to-support-nitish-kumar-s-jd-u-in-bihar-floor-test-528790?site=classic|publisher=NDTV|date=22 May 2015|access-date=30 May 2015|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531105319/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/lalu-yadav-s-party-to-support-nitish-kumar-s-jd-u-in-bihar-floor-test-528790?site=classic|archive-date=31 May 2014}}

On 29 December 2014, Kerala-based Socialist Janata (Democratic) merged with the JD(U) with its leader M.P. Veerendra Kumar, accepting the party flag from JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar. This was an important milestone in bringing a pan-Indian appeal to the JD(U) which is largely limited to the state of Bihar.{{cite news|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nitish-kumar-sjd-merger-jd-u-kerala-janata-parivar-veerendra-kumar/1/409352.html|title=Nitish Kumar hails SJD's merger with JD-U in Kerala|publisher=indiatoday.in|date=29 December 2014|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310195001/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nitish-kumar-sjd-merger-jd-u-kerala-janata-parivar-veerendra-kumar/1/409352.html|archive-date=10 March 2016}}

On 14 April 2015, the JD(U), Janata Dal (Secular), Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Indian National Lok Dal, Samajwadi Party, and Samajwadi Janata Party announced that they would merge into a new national Janata Parivar alliance in order to fight against the BJP in cooperation with one another, thus leaving the UPA. But for some reason this did not take place and the Samajwadi Party was subsequently offered 3 seats out of an assembly of 243 in the Bihar elections. Unhappy with this deal, it left the alliance and fought the elections separately.{{cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/janata-parivar-formalised-mulayam-singh-named-chief-of-new-party_1578871.html|title='Janata Parivar' formalised, Mulayam Singh named chief of new party|publisher=Zee News|date=15 April 2015|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118010403/http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/janata-parivar-formalised-mulayam-singh-named-chief-of-new-party_1578871.html|archive-date=18 January 2017}}

On 9 May, MLA Jitan Ram Manjhi was expelled from the JD(U) and he later founded the Hindustani Awam Morcha along with 17 other dissent JD(U) MLAs.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Manjhi-launches-HAM-as-new-political-party/articleshow/47208601.cms|title=Manjhi launches HAM as new political party|newspaper=The Times of India|agency=TNN|date=9 May 2015|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512095758/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Manjhi-launches-HAM-as-new-political-party/articleshow/47208601.cms|archive-date=12 May 2015}}

In the 2015 Bihar Legislative Assembly election JD(U) contested the election in an alliance with the RJD and Congress. It won 71 seats out of the 101 seats it contested and the alliance won 178 seats out the 243 seats in the assembly. Subsequently, Nitish Kumar again became the Chief Minister of Bihar.{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/bihar-verdict-how-rjd-congress-jdu-turned-vote-share-to-seats/story-dEYmNkluVvWP3M3vEFeliL.html|title=Bihar verdict: How RJD, Congress, JDU turned vote share to seats|website=Hindustan Times|date=12 November 2015 |accessdate=9 July 2024}}

In the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha held in March 2016, the ruling UDF of Kerala state gave one seat to JD(U) Kerala State Unit President M.P. Veerendra Kumar. In spite of having just 2 MLAs in the Legislative Assembly, the Congress gave a berth to its ally.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/congress-jdu-to-share-rajya-sabha-seats-antony-may-be-renominated/article8283153.ece|title=Congress, JD(U) to share Rajya Sabha seats; Antony may be renominated|newspaper=The Hindu|date=26 February 2016|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511204548/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/congress-jdu-to-share-rajya-sabha-seats-antony-may-be-renominated/article8283153.ece|archive-date=11 May 2018}}

On 26 July 2017 5 pm, Nitish Kumar tendered his resignation as Chief Minister of Bihar, ending 20-month-old Mahgathbandhan (grand alliance) rule. The next day on 27 July 2017 10 am he again took oath as Chief Minister of Bihar with the support of BJP. Same day evening, Kerala JD(U) chief M.P. Veerendra Kumar announced the split of Kerala unit of the JD(U) from the party, due to Nitish Kumar led Bihar unit joined hands with the BJP.{{cite news|author=Scroll Staff|title='Will fight fascist forces': Kerala JD(U) splits from party after Nitish Kumar allies with the BJP|url=https://scroll.in/latest/845213/will-fight-fascist-forces-kerala-jd-u-splits-from-party-after-nitish-kumar-allies-with-the-bjp|access-date=28 July 2017|work=Scroll.in|date=27 July 2017|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511204548/https://scroll.in/latest/845213/will-fight-fascist-forces-kerala-jd-u-splits-from-party-after-nitish-kumar-allies-with-the-bjp|archive-date=11 May 2018}} On 28 July 2017, new NDA government won trust vote in Bihar assembly by 131 votes in favour and 108 against, four legislators did not vote.{{cite news|title=Bihar Assembly trust vote LIVE updates: CM Nitish Kumar wins floor test with 131 votes|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-trust-vote-live-updates-nitish-kumar-rjd-lalu-prasad-yadav-congress-bjp-sushil-kumar-modi-4770728/|access-date=28 July 2017|work=The Indian Express|date=28 July 2017|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728064842/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-trust-vote-live-updates-nitish-kumar-rjd-lalu-prasad-yadav-congress-bjp-sushil-kumar-modi-4770728/|archive-date=28 July 2017}}

On 9 August 2022, Nitish Kumar announced that the JD(U)'s alliance with the BJP in the Bihar Legislative Assembly was over.{{cite news|url=https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/politics/dramatic-tuesday-in-bihar-as-nitish-kumar-leaves-bjp-again-stakes-claim-to-new-govt-with-rjd/ar-AA10tAGq|title=Nitish Kumar leaves BJP; stakes claim with RJD|newspaper=MSN|date=9 August 2022|access-date=9 August 2022}} He further made a claim that the new government in Bihar, a coalition of nine parties including the RJD and the INC would be a "Mahagathgandhan 2.0."

File:Umesh kushwaha, khiru Mahto, Nitish Kumar.jpeg and other leaders of JDU during Rajya Sabha nomination of Khiru Mahto.]]

The JD(U), just like its parent Samata Party, had the core support of Kushwaha and Kurmi caste, which emanated from the great rally organised in 1993 at Gandhi Maidan, Patna. In 2020 Assembly elections, the party performed badly, and its seats in Bihar Legislative Assembly reduced to 43 from 75 in 2015 elections. The breakaway of the faction led by Upendra Kushwaha, who founded Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, was recognised as one of the principal reason behind reduction in support base of the party in many constituencies. In a bid to retain its support amongst its core vote base, the party made several organisational changes, like appointing Ramchandra Prasad Singh as national president of the party and Umesh Kushwaha as the state president. Meanwhile, it also tried to give effect to the merger of the Upendra Kushwaha led RLSP with itself. The RLSP was formed as a result of a split in JD(U) in 2013. Immediately after the merger, Upendra Kushwaha was made president of parliamentary board of the party.{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/politics/in-rlsp-merger-a-nitish-message-to-bjp-as-he-rebuilds-luv-kush-alliance-with-kushwaha/621761/?amp|title=In RLSP merger, a Nitish message to BJP as he rebuilds 'Luv-Kush' alliance with Kushwaha|website=ThePrint|date=14 March 2021|accessdate=15 March 2021|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429233148/https://theprint.in/politics/in-rlsp-merger-a-nitish-message-to-bjp-as-he-rebuilds-luv-kush-alliance-with-kushwaha/621761/?amp|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/former-mla-umesh-kushwaha-appointed-bihar-jdu-president-7141332/|title=Former MLA Umesh Kushwaha appointed Bihar JD(U) president|website=The Indian Express|date=11 January 2021|accessdate=14 March 2021|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429231749/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/former-mla-umesh-kushwaha-appointed-bihar-jdu-president-7141332/|url-status=live}}

On 20 February 2023, Upendra Kushwaha resigned from the post of president of parliamentary committee of JDU and membership of Bihar Legislative Council and formed another party named Rashtriya Lok Morcha as a breakaway faction of JDU.{{cite web|url=https://news.abplive.com/news/india/jdu-rebel-upendra-kushwaha-announces-new-political-party-check-details-bihar-nitish-kumar-1583345|title=Upendra Kushwaha Resigns From Bihar CM Nitish's JDU, Floats Own Party 'Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal'|website=Abpnews|date=20 February 2023 |accessdate=20 February 2023}}

However, Umesh Kushwaha, who was re-elected to the post of party's state chief in November 2022, continued to serve party in that position for the second term.{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/umesh-kushwaha-gets-re-elected-as-jdus-bihar-chief/1238318/|title=Umesh Singh Kushwaha reelection as JDU state chief |website=The Print|date=27 November 2022 |accessdate=9 July 2024}}

File:Nitish Kumar with newly appointed members of Lok Sabha in 2024.jpg

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, JDU was granted 16 seats against Bharatiya Janata Party's 17 seats and it contested in alliance with BJP and Chirag Paswan led Lok Janashakti Party (Ram Vilas). It won 12 seats in this election and played an important role in the formation of the Third Modi government. With this victory, JDU changed the narrative that it has been weakened over the time under the leadership of Nitish Kumar with latter's growing age and lack of a next generation of leaders in the party.{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/elections/with-12-seats-jdu-has-the-muscle-to-flex-in-bihar/article68252216.ece|title=JDU flex muscle with 12 seats in Bihar|website=The Hindu Business line|date=4 June 2024 |accessdate=9 July 2024}}

This election also revealed JDU's hold and support base amongst the members of Extremely Backward Castes, which turned out to be the reason behind party's spectacular performance in the constituencies dominated by them.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/lok-sabha/story/lok-sabha-election-bihar-2024-result-jdu-nda-surprise-star-nitish-kumar-2548891-2024-06-04|title=Nitish Kumar emerged as surprise star in 2024|website=India Today|date=4 June 2024 |accessdate=9 July 2024}} In order to consolidate its support base amongst the different caste groups, JDU appointed Dileshwar Kamait, a member of Extremely Backward Caste as its leader of parliamentary party in 18th Lok Sabha, Sanjay Kumar Jha was appointed as leader of parliamentary party in Rajya Sabha after the 2024 general elections.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/parliament-session-dileshwar-kamait-jdu-lok-sabha-sanjay-jha-rajya-sabha-latest-updates-2024-06-25-938765|title=Dileshwar Kamait and Sabha Jha appointed as JDU floor leaders|website=India Tv|date=25 June 2024 |accessdate=9 July 2024}}

Subsequently, Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur were made union ministers in Third Modi government from the JDU.{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/jdu-ramnath-thakur-all-set-to-be-union-minister-modi-cabinet-9380982/|title=Modi govt 3.0: Deft caste balancing in JD(U) choice of ministers Lalan Singh, Ramnath Thakur|website=Indian express|date=9 June 2024 |accessdate=9 July 2024}}

• Nitish Kumar, National President, Chief Minister of Bihar.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bihar-chief-minister-nitish-kumar-is-new-jdu-chief/article8458031.ece|title=Nitish Kumar is new JD(U) chief|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 April 2016}}
• Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Member of Parliament and Former Bihar JD(U) President.{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/nitish-kumarss-team-7-masters-9-grads-and-12-who-went-to-school/|url-status = live|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20151205215544/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/nitish-kumarss-team-7-masters-9-grads-and-12-who-went-to-school/|archive-date=5 December 2015|title=Nitish Kumar's Bihar team: 7 Masters, 9 graduates and 12 who went to school|date=2015-11-22}}

• Umesh Kushwaha, Bihar state President of Janata Dal (United).{{cite web|url=http://www.uniindia.com/~/umesh-kushwaha-becomes-bihar-jd-u-president-succeeds-vashishth-narayan-singh/States/news/2288552.html|title=Umesh Kushwaha becomes Bihar JD(U) chief succeeds Vashishtha Narayan Singh|website=UniIndia|access-date=10 January 2021|archive-date=12 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112092834/http://www.uniindia.com/~/umesh-kushwaha-becomes-bihar-jd-u-president-succeeds-vashishth-narayan-singh/States/news/2288552.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abplive.com/states/bihar/former-minister-ramsevak-singh-will-be-jdu-state-president-cm-nitish-kumar-believed-on-pair-of-luv-kush-ann-1716103|title=पूर्व मंत्री रामसेवक सिंह होंगे JDU के नए प्रदेश अध्यक्ष, लव-कुश की जोड़ी पर नीतीश ने जताया भरोसा|website=ABP News|date=9 January 2021|access-date=10 January 2021|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109084522/https://www.abplive.com/states/bihar/former-minister-ramsevak-singh-will-be-jdu-state-president-cm-nitish-kumar-believed-on-pair-of-luv-kush-ann-1716103|url-status=live}}
• Ramsewak Singh Kushwaha, National General Secretary.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/k-c-tyagi-jdus-well-known-face-does-not-find-a-place-in-new-national-team-of-nitish-kumars-party/articleshow/98871042.cms|title=K C Tyagi, JD(U)'s well-known face, does not find place in new national team of Nitish Kumar's party|website=Times of India|date=21 March 2023 |accessdate=23 March 2023}}
• Santosh Kumar Kushwaha, National General Secretary.{{cite web|url= https://www.indiatvnews.com/bihar/news-bihar-jdu-national-office-bearers-list-kc-tyagi-name-missing-nitish-kumar-rjd-2023-03-22-856615|title= Bihar: Senior leader KC Tyagi name missing from JDU's list of new national office bearers|website=IndiaTV|date= 22 March 2023|accessdate=23 March 2023}}
• Kushwaha Ramkumar Sharma, National General Secretary.
• Shri Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, National General Secretary.

• Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Former Speaker of Bihar Legislative Assembly, Former Bihar JD(U) President & Former Leader of JD(U) Legislature Party.{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nitish-confidante-vijay-chaudhary-is-new-bihar-speaker/1/536704.html|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406110247/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/nitish-confidante-vijay-chaudhary-is-new-bihar-speaker/1/536704.html|archive-date=6 April 2017|title=Nitish confidante Vijay Chaudhary is new Bihar Speaker| date=2 December 2015 }}
• Harivansh Narayan Singh – Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (2018)
• Bashistha Narain Singh, Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha.{{cite web|url=http://www.ndtv.com/patna-news/unopposed-bashishtha-narayan-singh-re-elected-jd-u-bihar-unit-president-1466277|url-status = live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406020718/http://www.ndtv.com/patna-news/unopposed-bashishtha-narayan-singh-re-elected-jd-u-bihar-unit-president-1466277|archive-date=6 April 2017|title=Unopposed, Bashishtha Narayan Singh Re-Elected JD(U) Bihar Unit President}}
• Ram Nath Thakur, JDU Party leader in Rajya Sabha.{{Cite web |title=Shri Ram Nath Thakur{{!}} National Portal of India |url=https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/shri-ram-nath-thakur |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=india.gov.in |archive-date=15 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615163555/https://www.india.gov.in/my-government/indian-parliament/shri-ram-nath-thakur |url-status=live }}
• Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Minister for Energy, Registration, Excise and Prohibition, Government of Bihar

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