It seems Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has run out of patience with Janata Dal-United (JDU) National Parliamentary Board President Upendra Kushwaha’s anti-party antics that have been continuing for more than a month now.
It became apparent after JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar on February 6 said that he (Upendra Kushwaha) may leave if he wants but he should stop making statements against the party.
Without taking names, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said, “If someone comes to the party and now wishes to quit, he’s most welcome to leave. We are not concerned after that.”
"He can leave if he wants to, we don't care" says JDU supremo and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to Nat'l Parl Prez @Jduonline @UpendraKushJDU. Upendra was the leader of his own party- Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, until it merged with Janata Dal (United) in 2021. pic.twitter.com/RhCtknqgzB
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) February 6, 2023
“If you stay, it’s appreciated that you work for the benefit of the party. But if you make statements every day, that means they have made up their mind,” CM Kumar added.
CM Kumar made the statement during Samadhan Yatra in Banka where he was visiting to review development works.
He also said that he was surprised at Kushwaha’s changing attitude towards the JD(U). “He was given a lot of respect at the party. I don’t understand why he started speaking this language. It has happened much recently in the last two months. He quit the party twice, yet he was given a third chance. He has to decide where he wants to go,” CM Kumar said.
His statements came after Upendra Kushwaha decided to convene a meeting of state legislators on February 19 and February 20. He shared this information via Twitter, addressing a letter to workers on the party’s letterhead. In the letter, Kushwaha warned the party workers of a ‘special deal with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)’ and the possibility of the merger of RJD and JD(U).
जनता दल (यूनाइटेड) के कर्मठ, समर्पित एवं महत्वपूर्ण साथियों के नाम पत्र।
#जदयू_को_बचाना_है। pic.twitter.com/ul3heTLANY— Upendra Kushwaha (@UpendraKushRLJD) February 5, 2023
Meanwhile, JD(U) national president Rajiv Ranjan, alias Lalan Singh, issued a statement saying that Kushwaha at present held no party post, not even “the post of party parliamentary board president”, and that he was merely an MLC.
JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha warned the legislators from attending the meeting convened by Upendra Kushwaha on Monday.
He said, “We are keeping an eye on the scheduled meeting. Anyone who will attend the meeting will be strictly dealt with. I have full faith in the party workers loyal to CM Nitish Kumar, who will refrain from this.”
Attacking Upendra Kushwaha, Umesh Kushwaha said that there’s no question of holding talks with Upendra Kushwaha. He said, “Selfish and opportunistic people often lose their political ground. We’re severing communication with him.”
Umesh Kushwaha also said that Upendra Kushwaha did not fully integrate his party workers when he joined hands with JD(U). “When he merged his party with JD(U), he kept his workers at a certain distance. He did allow his party workers to integrate with the party,” Umesh Kushwaha said.
It is pertinent to note that Upendra Kushwaha was the leader of the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party until it merged with the Janata Dal (United) in 2021.
Upendra Kushwaha will not be the first JD (U) leader to get an unceremonious exit from the party. Once shown the door, he will join the league of George Fernandes, Sharad Yadav, and RCP Singh, who faced the same fate.