Bihar: RLM on brink of split as 3 of 4 party MLAs revolt over ‘parivar politics’; fate of Kushwaha’s son at risk | Patna News
PATNA: The fate of panchayati raj minister Deepak Prakash hangs in the balance as Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), led by Upendra Kushwaha, looks set to split with three of the four party MLAs likely to stake claim over the organisation as part of the NDA.The three RLM MLAs — Rameshwar Mahto, Madhav Anand and Alok Kumar Singh — are reportedly angry with Kushwaha for making his son a minister despite his not being a member of either House. If that happens, neither BJP nor JD(U), the two major NDA partners, will make Deepak an MLC, which is mandatory for him within six months to continue as a minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet.
Everyone was surprised when Kushwaha, whose Rajya Sabha membership is to expire in April, named his son Deepak as a minister from his quota instead of wife and Sasaram MLA Snehlata.In that case, renewal of Kushwaha’s Rajya Sabha membership may also hang in the balance as five Bihar seats in the Lower House are falling vacant in April.It reminds the political scenario in 2021 when five of the six LJP MPs of now Union minister Chirag Paswan formed a separate group and the Lok Sabha Speaker recognised Chirag’s uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras as the LJP parliamentary party leader. Paras was also made a Union minister in the NDA govt.When contacted over phone, Bajpatti MLA Rameshwar Mahto expressed his anger with Kushwaha and said, “The decision to make Deepak was wrong. We hoped Kushwaha would see reason, but in vain. The three of us are together but have not decided our next step yet, whether to leave the party or not.”Madhubani MLA Madhav Anand told this newspaper from Delhi on phone that the RLM was united. “We will sit and discuss things if there is any resentment,” he said, tongue in cheek.However, Anand, along with Mahto and Dinara MLA Alok had skipped the ‘litti party’ hosted by Kushwaha to iron out differences in the ranks and file of his party, and preferred to meet Nitin Nabin the same day after his appointment as the BJP national working president. He termed it a courtesy call, but political analysts read between the lines what future was likely to hold for the RLM camp.Mahto was unsparing when reminded that Kushwaha made his son minister “to keep the party united”, as he had said. “CM Nitish Kumar is my mentor, who always believes in doing what he says. I came with Kushwaha for his stand against dynastic politics. We launched RLM with ‘Virasat Bachao Naman Yatra’ by Kushwaha. I could never imagine that he is floating the party for ‘Parivar bachao aur badhao’ politics. I have a roaring business and do politics to serve the poor and not for ‘parivar’. Party workers have hopes from leaders. I started a charitable trust hospital for the poor soon after my election,” Mahto said.RLM insiders say Kushwaha’s daughter-in-law is equally ambitious in politics and will never let him decide things on his own.However, RLM chief spokesman Ram Pukar Sinha said the party is united and everyone is working hard to make it stronger.
