The Rashtriya Lok Morcha, the NDA’s ally in Bihar, could be heading towards a split after reports hint that a faction within the party has expressed dissent at founder Upendra Kushwaha’s attempt to promote daughter-in-law Sakshi Mishra, barely a month after installing son Deepak Prakash Kushwaha in the Nitish Kumar ministry.
Kushwaha’s bid to secure a prominent position for his daughter-in-law Sakshi, who is being promoted or the position of vice president of the State Citizens' Council, has triggered speculations of a rift. The State Citizens' Council is not a party unit but is part of the government structure. Its chairman is usually the Chief Minister. The vice-chairman and other positions are appointed on the recommendation of the government.
After Kushwaha expressed his desire, he held a Litti-Chokha party at his residence. Interestingly, three RLM MLAs did not attend the party. The MLAs had also met with the BJP’s new national executive president, Nitin Naveen, on December 24th. This comes as several RLM workers jumped ship to join Chirag Paswan’s party. These triggered rumours that the RLM is heading towards a split.
However, the rumours have made Kushwaha furious. The MP took to X to react to the speculation.
Addressing “media friends”, Kushwaha noted: “These days, you folks are showing a bit too much kindness towards me...! If not for my sake, then at least give some thought to your own reputation. You know very well that baseless, unfounded, and fabricated news doesn't really harm anyone. Because such news has a shelf life of just ten-five days at most.”
One of the MLAs who went to see Nitin Naveen has downplayed the visit. MLA Rameshwar Mahato said the visit was to congratulate him on becoming the acting president. “He was a minister in the Bihar government, and I am a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. We have a good relationship. This was a formal meeting and should not be seen in any other political sense,” Mahato said, adding that they are not in contact with any other party. “We have always been part of the RLM, the NDA, and will remain so,” he said.
