Patna: Amid an ongoing battle over seat-sharing issues, Union minister and RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha's “DNA” barb against Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar seems to have widened the rift within the NDA.
While addressing his party workers in Muzaffarpur recently, Mr Kushwaha said, “Nitish Kumar had collected samples of hair and nails to protest against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark in 2015, but he has not shared the test results. People of the state are still waiting for the report.”
According to Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leaders here, Mr Kushwaha gave the statement after chief minister Nitish Kumar called him “neech” (low) during an event last week. On Tuesday while clarifying his stand on the issue, Mr Kushwaha said that he was “hurt” by Nitish Kumar's “neech” statement and wants him to “take back his words”.
“I will raise the issue with BJP president Amit Shah when I meet him the next time. He (Nitish Kumar) should take his ‘neech’statement back immediately,” the Union minister said.
His latest statement against Nitish Kumar has sparked speculations regarding changes in Bihar alliance. On Tuesday in Patna, RLSP working committee president Nagmani even predicted “loss to the NDA in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections” if the BJP ignores Mr Kushwaha.
According to him, the political scenario in Bihar has changed and the RLSP's support base has increased in the last 15 years. “Ignoring Upendra Kushwaha is not easy for political parties in Bihar. Formation of any government is impossible without the support of RLSP,” he said.
Mr Kushwaha has been upset after the BJP and the JD(U) decided to contest on an equal number of seats in Bihar but offered the RLSP only two seats for 2019 general elections.
Sources said that Mr Nagmani and a few other RLSP leaders have been in favour of joining hands with the RJD. Sources also claim that the RLSP may decide to quit the NDA if the BJP fails to offer it at least four seats in 2019 polls.
While talking to this newspaper, Mr Nagmani said, “Lalu Yadav is a leader with larger mass base in the country and nobody can challenge him. But right now we would like to wait for the BJP to officially declare seat-sharing arrangements before taking any decisions. We have been demanding an honourable seat-sharing deal in Bihar.”
The RLSP leader's statement in favour of RJD chief Lalu Yadav was also supported by other leaders of the grand alliance here. RJD spokesperson Bhai Birendra said, “Nagmaniji knows the reality that's why he is saying that Lalu Yadav is a leader with larger mass base in the country today. The NDA will lose in 2019 general elections.”
Reports suggest that the RJD may extend fresh invitation to the RLSP chief who is considered a powerful Koeri leader, the largest OBC caste group after the Yadavs in Bihar.
The Koeris form around 10 per cent of the state population. As per an assessment, Mr Kushwaha has a voter base in around 20 Assembly seats.
