In a strategic reshuffle ahead of the looming Bihar Assembly polls, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is expected to appoint Mangani Lal Mandal as its new state president, replacing long-serving Jagdanand Singh. The announcement, scheduled for June 19, follows Mandal filing his nomination unopposed - an indication of his strong backing from party leadership, including Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav .

A seasoned politician from the Extremely Backward Class (EBC), Mandal served in the Bihar Legislative Council (1986–2004) and both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. His return to RJD in January - after a stint with JD(U) - marks a move to strengthen outreach among EBCs, who form over 36% of Bihar's electorate .

At 76, Mandal becomes the first EBC leader to take the reins of RJD’s Bihar unit—a symbolic shift signalling more inclusive leadership. Analysts believe this is RJD's calculated bid to swing EBC votes ahead of October–November elections. His organisational acumen and deep grassroots ties could reshape the party’s campaign.