Upendra Kushwaha quits JDU, announces new Party RLJP

Patna, Feb 20: In a big setback to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ahead of the 2024 general elections, Janata Dal-United's National Parliamentary Board president Upendra Kushwaha on Monday resigned from all party positions and formally launched a new political party - Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal - days after his ongoing tussle with party leader Nitish Kumar. Kushwaha made this announcement while addressing a press conference. "A new political inning begins today.

 

 

 

Barring a few, everyone in JD(U) was expressing concern...A meeting was held with elected colleagues and a decision was taken...Nitish Kumar did well in the beginning but in the end, the path he started walking is bad for him and Bihar," Kushwaha said.

 

 

 

In order to topple Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) government in Bihar, Kushwaha, who till now headed the party`s national parliamentary board, had earlier convened a two-day meeting of its members starting today. The disgruntled leader further stated that Nitish Kumar is not acting of his own volition but as per suggestions of people around him. "He's unable to act on his own today because he never made an effort to make a successor...Had Nitish Kumar chosen a successor, he needn't have looked at neighbors for one," he said. Around 5,000 party leaders from across the state assembled at the venue in his support. With this, Kushwaha has managed to prove his strength before the party and Nitish Kumar. Speculations were rife that the rebel leader would open his cards on Sunday, but he only listened to the speeches of other leaders. Now, his supporters are expecting him to announce his future strategies to take on Kumar. Upendra Kushwaha and state Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have been at loggerheads ever since the latter announced that Tejashwi Yadav will lead the Mahagathbandhan in the 2025 Assembly election. Opposing the chief minister, Kushwaha said the move would hurt the Lav-Kush (Kurmi is called Lav and Koiri is called Kush or Kushwaha) equation of the state. These two castes are rivals of the Yadavs. After the formation of the Mahagathbandhan government, a large chunk of Lav-Kush people was unhappy with Kumar taking Tejashwi Yadav and the RJD`s help. Kushwaha has also been harping on the same.

 

Also Read: Upendra Kushwaha likely to announce his new party today 

 

The stand of Upendra Kushwaha is deeply impacting the CM and his Lav-Kush equation. According to sources, Kumar is mulling disciplinary action against the rebel leader. Meanwhile, the JD(U) is maintaining a hawk`s eye on every development of this meeting and identifying leaders supporting Kushwaha.