RLSP stares at coup, MLAs may break away
Kushwaha leaving NDA could lead to splinter group
Amid speculations of Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha preparing to exit the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) over differences with Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar, one of the party’s two legislators in the Bihar assembly, Lallan Paswan, insisted that he and the other MLA of the party, Sudhanshu Shekhar, would stay with the alliance — Kushwaha or no Kushwaha.
“We are with the NDA and shall continue to stay with it. I have been in touch with a number of supporters of Kushwaha, and if he exits from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition, we will move the election commission to seek recognition of our group as the original RLSP,” said Paswan, MLA from Chenari. Shekhar, the legislator from Harlakhi, could not be reached for a comment.
Shekhar met JD(U) national vice-president Prashant Kishore a few days ago, setting off speculation he might switch allegiance to that party even as Kushwaha accused the Bihar chief minister of trying to “poach” his MLAs.
Kushwaha has been at odds with Kumar for a long time. The announcement by BJP president Amit Shah and Kumar that the two parties would be equal allies in Bihar and contest an equal number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections next year, seems to have spooked him. There has been speculation on the specifics of the seat-sharing formula, but no announcement has been made by the two main partners. Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party is also a member of the grouping.
There has been speculation that if the two MLAs split, they could get Cabinet berths. People familiar with the matter claimed the duo has written to Bihar assembly speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary, requesting they be treated as a separate group.
Lallan Paswan denied having written any letter, although he admitted he soon may. “I am closely watching the situation and if need be, Sudhanshu and I will seek recognition as a separate group in the assembly by writing to the speaker.”
The speaker said he had not received any letter so far. “I will take a decision only after I receive any communication from them.”
RLSP’s Sitamarshi MP, Ram Kumar Sharma, is also said to be in contact with NDA leaders and likely to join the RLSP splinter group if Kushwaha decides to switch over to the grand alliance of the Congress, RJD, HAM(S) and Loktantrik Janata Dal.
“The RLSP appears to be heading towards a split as its legislators might stay with the NDA. If that happens, Kushwaha’s political standing in Bihar will take a hit and weaken his bargaining power as a regional leader,” said a senior NDA leader who asked not to be identified.
Meanwhile, the man himself left for New Delhi on Thursday to meet Shah in what is widely seen as a last-ditch attempt to mend his relationship with the alliance.
In a tweet, he said he would meet Shah and try to discuss the seat-sharing arrangement.
Over the past few days, Kushwaha has come under fire from NDA leaders over his tirade against Nitish Kumar, with the BJP leadership also “annoyed” over his meetings with Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD and Loktantrik Janata Dal chief Sharad Yadav, both political opponents of NDA.