Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, February 20
Chairman of the central parliamentary board of JDU Upendra Kushwaha finally quit the party and instantly formed another Janata Dal-Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal.
He later announced that he had been elected national president of the new party. Kushwaha submitted his papers to the Chairman of the Bihar Vidhan Parishad who is a member of JDU. He had been a member in all the four Houses in Parliament and Bihar legislature since 2000.
Kushwaha started his career as Samata Party member and was nominated leader of opposition two decades ago. He represents the influential caste group of Kushwahas (vegetable growers) who are widespread in different parts of the state.
JDU played down and reacted politely to the CPB chief deserting the party. National president of the JDU, Rajiv Ranjan Singh said, “Apprehension of Kushwaha that the JDU will merge with the RJD is wrong. JDU will maintain its identity.
Kushwaha is an overambitious politician and had deserted NDA too in the past. He has a desire to become CM of Bihar. “JDU wishes Good luck to Kushwaha,” Singh added.
Earlier Kushwaha had alleged Nitish Kumar had entered into a secret deal with Lalu Prasad to get the JDU merged with RJD and liquidate the parent party. At a conference of the party workers held at Sacchidanand Sinha Library Hall, Kushwaha alleged Nitish Kumar had mortgaged JDU with RJD and was acting as the deputy of Tejaswhi Prasad Yadav, his Deputy Chief Minister. Nitish is under the influence of Lalu Prasad and family and would ruin Bihar, he added.
Kushwaha had been Union Minister of State for Education in the NDA headed by Narendra Modi and had quit the alliance in 2020 to join the Grand Alliance. AIMIM had projected him as the next CM of Bihar in alliance with the party and Bahujan Samaj Party.
He could not succeed and returned to NDA in 2019 (then Nitish was with NDA). He was made chairman of the Parliamentary board of party and nominated as member of the Upper House.
