RLSP MLAs revolt, to stay with NDA

Patna, December 15 

All RLSP members in the bicameral Bihar legislature on Saturday declared their allegiance with the NDA even as they accused party president Upendra Kushwaha of pursuing ‘personal interests’.

Both the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) MLAs — Sudhanshu Shekhar and Lalan Paswan — and its lone MLC Sanjiv Singh Shyam, at a joint press conference here, pitched for a ministerial berth for Shekhar,  a first-term MLA and the youngest among the three, in the state Cabinet.

“We will also approach the Election Commission with the claim that we represent the real RLSP and enjoy the support of most workers and office-bearers,” Shyam announced, making it clear the RLSP was headed towards a split.

The RLSP which fought the 2014 General Election as well the 2015 state polls as an NDA constituent, has three MPs, including Kushwaha, Arun Kumar from Jehanabad and Ram Kumar Sharma from Sitamarhi. Arun Kumar has been charting an independent course for past two years.

Sharma, who initially issued statements in favour of NDA and Nitish Kumar, later changed his stance and was seen with Kushwaha when the latter announced his resignation from the Union Cabinet, severing ties with the NDA.

“We had been saying all long that we were for the RLSP remaining with the NDA, but Kushwaha, who was more interested in personal gains, paid no heed,” claimed Shyam, accusing Khushwaha of doing precious little to ensure a berth for any other party member. “Khushwaha was happy with his own berth at the Centre. After that his entire attention was on getting a deal that served his interests better,” he added. 

Rumblings within the party had come to the fore last month when Shekhar and Paswan turned up at a meeting of BJP Legislature Party at the residence of Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi. — PTI

Cong’s Ahmed Patel meets Kushwaha        

New Delhi: Congress leader Ahmed Patel on Saturday met RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, who severed ties with the BJP recently, at the former Union minister’s residence, fuelling speculation the Bihar leader may join the Opposition grand alliance in the state to take on the ruling combine.  Rashtriya Lok Samta Party spokesperson Fazal Imam Mallick said it was the first round of talks between Kushwaha and the Congress and his party is hopeful of a “positive” outcome. PTI