Fractured ties: Nitish Kumar suspects out of favour aide Upendra Kushwaha of being in touch with BJP

Things went south between Kumar and Kushwaha when reports surfaced in media of the latter probability to become Deputy CM

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday betrayed suspicion that Upendra Kushwaha, a key aide who has of late fallen out of favour with him, could be hobnobbing with the BJP.

Kumar was replying to queries of journalists about Kushwaha, the JD(U)'s disgruntled parliamentary board chief, claiming that the party had grown "weak" in recent times and that senior leaders in the party remained in touch with the BJP despite the nasty break up in August last year.

"He should name at least one leader who is in touch (with BJP). The one who himself wants to get in touch is making such allegations," snapped Kumar.

"He may talk nonsense for as long as he pleases and leave the day he wishes to," added the JD(U) supremo.

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Kumar also rubbished Kushwaha's claim that the party had grown weak, pointing out, "The latest membership drive saw our strength swell from less than 50 lakh to 75 lakh."

Kushwaha returned to the JD(U) in 2021, eight years after quitting, merging his Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and besides the respectable party post, was quickly rewarded with a berth in the legislative council.

Things turned sour between the mentor and protégé recently when reports surfaced in a section of the media that Kushwaha could become a Deputy CM, evoking a strong denial from Kumar who made it clear that RJD's Tejashwi Yadav would remain the sole occupant of the post.

JD(U) insiders believe that the reports might have appeared at the instance of Kushwaha himself, who has the reputation of being very ambitious.

Last week, Kushwaha was in Delhi to undergo medical check-up and his pictures with some BJP leaders at AIIMS went viral on social media which is being seen as a "deliberate leak" by those in support of Kushwaha.

The parliamentary board chief was snubbed by the party on Tuesday when he was not invited to a function attended by the chief minister and most other leaders of consequence in JD(U).

The function saw the CM, in his address, making a veiled reference to Kushwaha planning to desert the party, again, in which he was rehabilitated after spending a long time in political wilderness.

"He never conveyed to me if he had any unfulfilled ambitions. He may go wherever he likes. Though here he enjoys respect," Kumar had told reporters on the sidelines of the function when they requested him for a more direct comment.

Meanwhile, Kushwaha struck a defiant note, taking to social media to declare that he would not go anywhere without claiming his "own share".

"Well said, big brother. But if little brothers start leaving just upon being told to do so, elder ones will end up grabbing all that has been bequeathed by ancestors. How can I leave giving up my own share?" tweeted Kushwaha, sharing a news report about the CM's outbursts against himself.

Kushwaha had, last week, made it clear that he "will never become a member of the BJP" but remained evasive on the question of floating a party and joining the NDA ahead of the Lok Sabha polls next year.