Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the distribution of seats, particularly the Mahua constituency, which has been allocated to the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), reported News18 Hindi, citing sources.
Kushwaha is reportedly upset because he intended to field his son from the Mahua seat. The situation has become more complex amid reports that certain constituencies initially promised to Kushwaha’s party are now being reassigned to other NDA allies.
Insiders cited in the News18 Hindi report reveal that the RLM chief feels “humiliated” by this development, leading to growing friction within the alliance.
Tensions within the NDA are not new. Earlier disagreements between the BJP and JD(U) over seat allocation had already surfaced.
However, Kushwaha’s displeasure appears to have further complicated the coalition’s internal balance just weeks before the polls.
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Signs of discord become public
The first sign of Kushwaha’s discontent emerged when he repeatedly instructed senior party leaders to avoid attending the nomination events of any NDA candidate.
The RLM leader returned to Patna from Sasaram on Tuesday, Oct 14, following which a series of high-level BJP leaders, including Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, Nityanand Rai, Nitin Navin, and Rituraj Sinha, rushed to his residence for an emergency meeting.
Marathon talks behind closed doors
The closed-door discussions began around 11 pm and continued until nearly 5 am on the morning of Wednesday, Oct 15. Kushwaha remained firm on his stance despite marathon efforts to persuade him, as per News18 Hindi.
He reportedly told the visiting BJP leaders that he would not agree to any compromise until he meets Union Home Minister Amit Shah “in person”.
‘Nothing is fine in NDA,’ says Upendra Kushwaha
When Kushwaha finally emerged to face the waiting reporters at dawn, he offered a brief but telling response that fuelled further speculation.
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“This time, nothing is fine in the NDA,” Kushwaha said.
Kushwaha is now expected to travel to Delhi soon to meet Amit Shah, as per News18 Hindi. Political observers believe this meeting will be crucial in determining whether he continues with the NDA or explores other political avenues.
The episode has left Bihar’s political corridors abuzz, with one central question dominating the discussion: Is Upendra Kushwaha preparing for another dramatic political shift, or is he using his dissent to negotiate a stronger position within the alliance?
