Upendra Kushwaha quits JDU, launches new political party

In a huge setback for Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, ahead of 2024 general elections, Upendra Kushwaha, on Monday, February 20, quit Janata Dal (United) and resigned from all positions and launched a new political party named ‘Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal’.

This developments in Bihar politics comes at the time when Kushwaha has been at loggerheads with the State’s Chief Minister. Kushwaha announced the name of his party and said that he has been made party’s national president.

The tussle between the two, which has been going on for months now came to an end today with the announcement, however, Kushwaha attacked Nitish while launching his political party.

“We’ve decided to form a new party – Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal. This has been decided unanimously. I’ve been made its national president. The party will take forward the legacy of Karpoori Thakur. We’ll work towards rejecting the agreement made with RJD,” Kushwaha said.

He furthermore claimed that when Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister of the State, he did pretty well, however, now he had lost the track and the path that he opted at the end was “bad for him and the party”.

“A new political innings is beginning today. Barring a few, everyone in JD(U) was expressing concern…A meeting was held with elected colleagues and decision was taken…Nitish Kumar did well in the beginning but in the end, the path on which he started walking is bad for him and Bihar, and the party,” Kushwaha added.

Furthermore, he also alleged that the Kumar was not acting on his own volition but as per the suggestions of people around him.
“He’s unable to act on his own today because he never made an effort to make a successor…Had Nitish Kumar chosen a successor, he needn’t have looked at neighbours for one,” he said.