NEW DELHI, Jan. 14 -- Former Union minister Ramchandra Prasad Singh, better known as RCP Singh, may return to his old party - the Janata Dal (United) - with political circles in Bihar buzzing over the possibility of his comeback after the end of Kharmas on January 14, the inauspicious period in the Hindu calendar that traditionally puts major political decisions on hold. Senior JD(U) leaders said thaqt Singh, currently associated with Prashant Kishor's Jan Suraaj, has conveyed his willingness to rejoin the party he helped build over two decades alongside chief minister Nitish Kumar. However, the final call, as always, rests with Nitish Kumar, who is said to be weighing both organisational needs and political optics before giving the green signal. Speculation gained fresh momentum on Sunday, when Nitish Kumar and RCP Singh attended a Dahi-Chura programme at Patel Bhawan in Patna, organised by leaders from the Kurmi community - from where both these leaders belong. However, they did not meet formally as Nitish left early while Singh arrived later. A senior JD(U) leader, who also hails from the same community said that the gathering saw slogans calling for their reunion, underlining the community's push to bring the veteran strategist back into the JD(U) fold. "After Kharmas, many political equations change in Bihar. There is a feeling within the party that someone with RCP Singh's organisational experience is needed, especially at a time when questions are being raised about leadership succession," he said, asking not to be named. RCP Singh was once Nitish Kumar's most trusted lieutenant. He joined him in 1998 when Nitish was union railway minister and later served as the chief minister's principal secretary from 2005 to 2010. After taking voluntary retirement from the IAS, he entered politics and was sent to the Rajya Sabha in 2010, serving two terms until 2022. He also became Union steel minister after the JD(U) returned to the NDA in 2021. However, his rise created internal friction, particularly with Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, the then JD(U) national president and now the cabinet minister of panchayati raj, fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying. In August 2022, RCP Singh was expelled from the party for allegedly trying to split it and for his perceived proximity to the BJP. His Rajya Sabha term was not renewed, forcing him to step down from the Modi cabinet. Since then, RCP Singh has tried to remain politically relevant. He joined Jan Suraaj ahead of the Lok Sabha elections but failed to make a significant impact. According to JD(U) insiders, he now believes that his political future lies only within Nitish Kumar's party. "He has spoken to almost all senior leaders. Everyone is aware that he wants to return. The matter is now with Nitish Kumar," said another JD(U) leader....