JD(U) tears Union Minister Kushwaha to shreds

The Janata Dal (United) has taken umbrage at Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha’s claim that Nitish Kumar would like to relinquish the post of Bihar Chief Minister after 2020.

Two days ago, Kushwaha had claimed that Nitish once told him that he was ‘tired’ and would give up chief ministership in 2020, after serving as Bihar CM for around 15 years.

Hitting out at Kushwaha for “spreading canards” about Nitish, the ruling party spokesperson Ajay Alok said, “The post of Chief Minister is not like ‘rasagulla’ or mutton rice, where the desire is satiated after eating it. One becomes a Chief Minister only when people elect him. Nitish Kumar is CM because people have reposed immense faith in him. And he will continue to don the mantle till he enjoys the voters’ confidence.”

Former Minister and JD (U) national spokesperson Shyam Razak was all the more scathing. “Nitish Kumar’s popularity remains unmatched. He will continue as Bihar CM till as long as he enjoys people’s confidence and till he is physically as well as mentally strong,” said Razak.

The JD (U) angst against the Union Minister is quite understandable as Kushwaha and Nitish have been bitter rivals. In 2013, Nitish threw him out of the JD (U) for his anti-party activities. As a consequence, Kushwaha formed RLSP, aligned with the NDA, and won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections before making his debut as a Union Minister.

Currently, RLSP has two MPs and two MLAs. Kushwaha has his own axe to grind. The Union Minister for State for HRD has this notion that he represents seven per cent Kushwahas in Bihar, an OBC, which is numerically stronger than three per cent Kurmis, Nitish fellow caste men. “Going by that yardstick, Upendra Kushwaha wants a larger pie in the NDA. Although it’s equally true that with Nitish back in the NDA fold, Kushwaha has been rendered insignificant,” explained a senior BJP leader, aware of goings-on with the ruling alliance.

“Kushwaha’s latest attempt to spread canard about Nitish has not gone down well with Bihar CM. Neither RLSP will get any berth whenever Nitish expands his Cabinet, nor will Kushwaha get more than two seats to contest during the 2019 LS polls,” said the source.