Last Update: January 25, 2023, 17:32 IST
Kushwaha has made it clear that he will never become a member of the BJP, but has been evasive on the question of forming a party and joining the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (Credits: Facebook/Upendra Kushwaha) (Credits: Facebook/Upendra Kushwaha)
Last week, Kushwaha was in Delhi for a 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” in support of Kushwaha.
Chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar On Wednesday, a key ally Upendra Kushwaha, who fell out of favor with him recently, betrayed suspicions that there might be a rapprochement with the BJP.
Kumar was replying to questions from reporters about JD(U)’s dissident parliamentary board chief Kushwaha claiming that the party has become “weak” in recent times and that senior party leaders have joined the BJP despite evils. are in contact with. Broke up in August last year.
He should name at least one leader who is in touch (with the BJP). The one who wants to be contacted himself is making such allegations”, Kumar said.
“He can chatter as long as he wants and call it a day,” said the JD(U) supremo, who dismissed Kushwaha’s claim that the party has become weak, adding, “The latest membership drive has Noticed an increase in strength.” 50 lakhs to less than 75 lakhs”.
Kushwaha returned to the JD(U) in 2021, eight years after quitting, merged his Rashtriya Lok Samata Party and was rewarded with a berth in the Legislative Council, apart from a respectable party post.
Things between the mentor and protégé turned sour recently when reports emerged in a section of the media that Kushwaha could become the deputy chief minister, evoking a strong denial from Kumar who made it clear that RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav was the only candidate for the post. Occupiers will remain.
JD(U) insiders believe that these reports may have come at the behest of Kushwaha, who has a reputation for being very ambitious.
Last week, Kushwaha was in Delhi for a 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” in support of Kushwaha.
On Tuesday, the party snubbed the parliamentary board chief when he was not invited to a function which was attended by the chief minister and other leaders of the JD(U).
The function saw the Chief Minister in his address making a veiled reference to Kushwaha planning to quit the party again, rehabilitating him after spending a long time in the political jungle.
“He never told me if he had any unfulfilled ambitions. He can go wherever he wants. He is respected here though”, Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of the event, when they requested him for more direct comments.
Kushwaha has made it clear that he will “never become a member of the BJP” but has been evasive on the question of forming a party and joining the NDA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)