Upendra Kushwaha ‘keeping options open’ for 2019

New Delhi: Trouble seems to be brewing for the BJP in Bihar following indications that Union minister and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha could be “keeping his options open” for the 2019 general elections.

While the RJD recently claimed that Mr Kushwaha could be “joining the grand alliance soon”, reports emnating from the state indicate that the outfit was also holding talks with a section of JD(U) MLAs. So far, Mr Kushwaha has maintained that he was “firmly” with the NDA. 

Sources, however, disclosed that Mr Kushwaha and even the JD(U) would be watching the forthcoming elections in Karnat-aka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh closely before taking a “final call”. 

Differences between Mr Kushwaha and the BJP surfaced after the Jehanabad Assembly seat was given to the JD(U), which the outfit eventually lost to the RJD. The Jehanabad seat was contested by the RLSP during the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls. Incidentally, the RSLP had also lost the berth to the RJD nominee, Mundrika Yadav, whose sudden death necessitated the by-election last month. 

According to saffron leaders, the berth was giv-en to JD(U) following differences between Mr Kushwaha and his party MP from Jehanabad Lok Sabha berth Arun Kumar. Incidentally, Arun Kumar, who was eventually suspended by Mr Kushawaha, extended support to the BJP as an independent MP. 

Mr Kumar’s move to switch allegiance to the BJP had also upset Mr Kushwaha, sources said. After the suspension of Mr Kumar, the RLSP is now left with two MPs in Lok Sabha. The party has two MLAs from Bihar. 

RJD’s MLA from Maner Assembly seat Bhai Virendra had recently said Mr Kushwaha would join the Grand Alliance, which at this juncture include, RLD, Congress and Jiten Ram Majhi led Hindustani Awam Party (HAM)  RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s elder son Tej Pratap Yadav also went on record saying that “some JD(U) MLAs were in talks” with his party. With RJD rapidly consolidating it’s Muslim-Yadav (MY) Kushwaha’s possible exit could hit the BJP-JD(U) hard in the state. Already the RJD-HAM combination is ahead of  JD(U)-BJP-LJP(Lok Jan Shakti Party) in the caste equation. 

Kushwaha comes from the Koeri community, which comrpises nearly six percent of the state’s population. Moreover, the Koeris in Bihar play a deciding factor in at least 20 assembly berths. As per caste arithmetic while Yadavs comprise 16 percent, the Muslims are around 16.8 percent. Jiten Ram Majhi who belongs to the Mahadalit community also comprise of nearly 16 percent of the state’s population. 

It may be recealled that Kushwaha’s recent statement that “some persons” trying to create social strife in Bihar. “CM Nitish Kumar should take strong action against such persons,” had upset the BJP. Though RLSP chief did not take names, his statement appeared to be aimed at a section of BJP leaders in the state. 

Once considered close to JD(U) chief and state chief minister, Mr Nitish Kumar, Kushwaha had formed RLSP in 2013. Later, while Mr Nitish Kumar joined hands with RJD and Congress to form the grand alliance during the 2015 assembly polls in Bihar, RSLP stayed with the NDA. However, after JD(U)’s return to NDA fold, the RSLP has been “looking out”, sources said.