Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad arrived in Patna from Delhi on Friday after seven months.

Jubilant party workers and leaders welcomed him at Patna airport with slogans hailing him as the “messiah of the poor” and showered flower petals as he came out of the terminal in a wheelchair.

Lalu had been recuperating in Delhi following a kidney transplant in Singapore last year.

He was accompanied by his younger son and Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and close aide and former MLA Bhola Yadav. Lalu’s elder son and state environment minister Tej Pratap Yadav received him in Patna.

Lalu’s return comes at a time chief minister Nitish Kumar is spearheading efforts to unite the Opposition against the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The battle lines are being drawn in Bihar between the ruling Grand Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance, and Tejaswi is waiting to take charge as the chief minister.

The RJD chief is expected to instil enthusiasm in his party for the general election, keep an eye on disgruntled leaders and allies and pay attention to the pending cabinet expansion.

Sources in the RJD said Lalu could visit Singaporefor a few days in May for a checkup but was expected to return to Patna if the doctors permit.

“Laluji has constantly opposed the BJP and paida heavy price for it. Buthe has continued to fight against communalism, dictatorship and the attempts to destroy the country and will continue to do so. He is a man committed to social justice,” close aide and RJD Bihar unit president Jagadanand Singh told reporters while referring to the corruption cases registered against him by central agencies.