BJP ally in turmoil over dynasty politics: Upendra Kushwaha’s party faces a familiar problem as MLAs revolt
A month after seven leaders quit the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, three of its four MLAs skip dinner hosted by Kushwaha, with one accusing him of “blatantly promoting” his family.
Upendra Kushwaha Trouble has mounted for Upendra Kushwaha-led Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), a BJP ally in Bihar, after three of its four MLAs raised the banner of revolt over Kushwaha’s son Deepak Prakash being made a state minister despite not being a legislator. They accused the RLM chief of “blatantly promoting” his family.
MLAs Alok Kumar Singh (Dinara), Rameshwar Mahto (Bajpatti), and Madhaw Anand (Madhubani) skipped Kushwaha’s litti chokha party on Wednesday and instead met with BJP national working president Nitin Nabin. The buzz of revolt further intensified after Anand and Mahto left for Delhi later in the day, reportedly to meet BJP leaders.
The RLM won four of the six seats it contested in the recent Bihar Assembly polls. Its fourth legislator is Kushwaha’s wife, Snehlata (Sasaram).
“Kushwaha promoting dynasty in politics is a suicidal step. He is a Rajya Sabha MP, his wife is the MLA, and his son is a minister. The three of us (MLAs) are against this, but we are not quitting the party. Meeting Nabin was a courtesy call. Even Kushwaha ji met him,” Anand told The Indian Express. He also hit back at Kushwaha for questioning their loyalty.
Echoing Anand’s views, Mahto said Kushwaha used to be “dead against dynastic politics”. “All of sudden, he has forgotten about it. He did not consult us before making his son a minister. But, we are with the party. Just meeting Nabinji does not mean we are joining the BJP. However, we registered our protest by skipping the dinner party,” he added.
While Kushwaha himself was not available for comment, a source close to him said the MLAs’ absence from the dinner was being overblown. “Things will settle down soon,” the source said.
Wednesday’s development comes barely a month after seven party leaders, including former RLM number two Jitendra Nath, quit the party in protest against making Prakash a minister.
Facing rebellion is not new for Kushwaha. Soon after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, two of his MLAs along with an MLC had switched over to the JD(U).
Even as a BJP leader tried to downplay the development, saying the matter was an “internal issue” of the RLM and that the MLAs meeting Nabin must not be politicised, a JD(U) leader said Kushwaha must learn “how to keep his flock together” from Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi.
The RLM rebellion comes days after Manjhi stepped up his demand for a Rajya Sabha berth, over six months before five seats from Bihar are set to fall vacant.
“We have done very well in the Bihar Assembly elections and are next to only the BJP in terms of performance. Of the five Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant, the JD(U) and the BJP will get two each while the (Chirag Paswan-led) LJP (RV) will stake claim for the fifth. We have to give up ‘moh (desire)’ of ministries at the Centre and in the state,” Manjhi said at a party event last week, with his son and Bihar minister Santosh Suman by his side on the stage.
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