Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, July 2
After poor show by the economically and politically influential Kushwaha candidates of NDA in the last month’s general elections in Bihar, Kushwahas are being kept in good humour well before the next year’s state assembly polls.
The former union minister of state in Narendra Modi led NDA-1 ministry, Upendra Kushwaha on Tuesday became the NDA candidate for Rajya Sabha elections and a former rural development in Nitish Kumar led NDA ministry in Bihar, Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha filed his nomination papers for the state legislative council membership.
The Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM and state BJP President Samrat Chaudhury were present in the chamber of returning officer.
Upendra Kushwaha who heads the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, a constituent of NDA was defeated in the Lok Sabha elections at Karakat in Shahabad region by Rajaram Kushwaha of CPI( ML) and Bhojpuri film star, Pawan Singh.
Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha, who is vice president of JDU, was earlier with RJD. Election will be held on July 12 by the members of the Bihar assembly.
Due to disqualification of RJD member, Rambali Singh of RJD, seat was declared vacant by the Election Commission.
Vivek Thakur of BJP who was elected to Lok Sabha from Nawada vacated his Rajya Sabha seat. Upendra Kushwaha has been fielded to fill up the vacancy caused by the resignation of Thakur from Rajya Sabha
With majority of the NDA in Bihar assembly, the two Kushwahas election to the upper House in Bihar and Parliament is certain. Kushwahas count for 4.40 per cent of the electorate and their numbers are decisive in 70 assembly constituencies going to polls next year.
With election of Misa Bharti ( RJD) to Lok Sabha from Patliputra, Another seat in Rajya Sabha has fallen vacant. There is a vacancy in the Legislative Council as Devesh Chandra Thakur of JDU has been elected to Lok Sabha from Sitamarhi.
Presidents of both big partners in NDA , the BJP and JDU, are Kushwahas. Samrat Chaudhury heads Bihar unit of BJP and his counterpart in JDU is Umesh Kushwaha.
