RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha joins UPA, becomes part of grand alliance in Bihar

Ten days after quitting the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leader and former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha joined the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on Thursday, becoming part of a grand alliance in Bihar.

Kushwaha, who pulled out of the NDA on December 10 after disagreements over seat sharing for the Lok Sabha polls 2019,  joined the UPA in presence of senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, former Chief Minister of Bihar, Jitan Ram Manjhi, founder of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) Sharad Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashvi Yadav at the Congress headquarters in Delhi.

“We had said it earlier that we have many options and UPA was one of them. The wholeheartedness shown by Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav is one of the reasons why I joined the UPA but the biggest reason I’m here is the people of Bihar,” said Kushwaha addressing the media.

Welcoming Kushwaha to the UPA fold, senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said: “There is a gathbandhan in Bihar, it’s a matter of happiness that Upendra Kushwaha is joining the mahagathbandhan.”

Sources privy to the talks between UPA partners have claimed that Kushwaha has been offered four to five seats to contest for ensuing Lok Sabha polls in Bihar.

Political observers believe that Kushwaha’s joining the UPA fold will give a boost to the grand alliance in Bihar to counter BJP-led NDA, which comprises JD(U) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP).

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav welcomed Kushwaha to the UPA fold, saying that, “India is facing an undeclared state of emergency…we the partners of UPA have come together to save the constitution and to provide an alternative to the people of Bihar.”

Blaming Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for “disrespecting the mandate of Bihar”, Yadav asserted, “results of the recently held assembly elections show that mood of the people have changed…we will form the government of Mahagathbandhan in 2019.”

Pertinently, Kushwaha who fought Lok Sabha election 2014 as an NDA ally and his party had bagged three parliamentary seats in Bihar.

While RLSP MP from Jehanabad, Arun Kumar has deserted Kushwaha and remained with the NDA, Sitamarhi MP Ram Kumar Sharma has joined him after initial flip-flop. Sharma was seen at the press meet at the Congress headquarters.