The Rashtriya lok Samata Party (RlSP), a regional party of Bihar, which is a partner of NDA and the Narendra Modi-led Government, is on the brink of a split. Headed by Union Minister of State for HRD Upendra Kushwaha, the small party is undergoing
turmoil following the removal of its Bihar unit president Arun Kumar, the MP from Jehanabad.
Both the factions of the party led by Kushwaha and Kumar are spitting venom against each other and trying to prove their strength. After removing Kumar, party president Kushwaha has ousted five senior leaders of the party who sided with Kumar.
The RlSP has three MPs and two MlAs. While the two MPs Kushwaha and Kumar are heading rival factions the third one Ramkumar Sharma is with Kushwaha. Of the two MlAs, one Sudhanshu Shekhar is in Kushwaha camp while another one lalan Paswan has joined Kumar faction.
In bid to weaken Kumar, the national working committee of the RlSP expelled five leaders from the primary membership of the party. They are former farmers wing president Vijay Kushwaha, former vice president of Bihar unit Shiv Kumar, former general secretary Shambhu Kushwaha, former spokesman Manojlal Das Manu and former national general secretary Rajukumar Singh. They are all Kumar supporters and had earlier been removed from their respective posts after action was taken against Kumar.
RlSP national general secretary Fazal Imam Malik said all of them are accused of indulging in anti-party activities. Some more Kumar supporters are also likely to be removed shortly.
When asked about the rebellion in the party and removal of Kumar, the Union MoS for HRD said, “Kumar is now out of syllabus.” The Kumar supporters accused Kushwaha of playing into the hands of lalu Prasad and Nitish Kumar.
“Kushwaha is feeling highly insecure in the party. He may be feeling secured after removing me from the post and five others from the party but he is wrong,” said Kumar, an outspoken leader who belongs to Bhumihar caste.
Kumar said Kushwaha should have replied to the allegations hurled against him by the party men. Kumar supporters accused Kushwaha of making RlSP his pocket borough and even hinted to launching a new party. RlSP’s national general secretary Rambihari Singh is expected to be appointed new president of State unit.