NEW DELHI, Apr 10:

Bihar Chief Minister NitishKumar was today elected as JD(U)president, a move that would puthim in complete command of theparty as its seeks to expand beyondthe State and prepares for the 2019Lok Sabha polls.

His unanimous election to thetop post at the party's NationalExecutive meeting brought an endto the decade-old tenure of SharadYadav, who had ruled himself out

for a fourth term.It is for the first time that

Kumar, JD(U)'s face in Bihar, hasbeen elected president of theState-centric party. Its two previ-

ous presidents--George Fernandesand Sharad Yadav--were from out-side Bihar, the State they virtuallymade their political home.

Kumar's name was proposed

by Yadav and seconded by theparty's secretary general K CTyagi, general secretary JavedRaza, among others, party lead-ers said following the meeting.

The Bihar Chief Minister, whomade a spectacular return to powerlast year after his party was bruisedand battered in the 2014 Lok Sabhapolls, told the executive aboutefforts being made to bring partieswith similar ideologies together ashe accepted the new responsibility,Tyagi said. (PTI)

MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2016 (PAGE 14) DAILY EXCELSIOR, JAMMU

Nitish is new JD(U) chief