Upendra Kushwaha quits JDU, launches new political party

In a huge setback for Bihar Chief Nitish Kumar ahead of the 2024 general elections, Upendra Kushwaha on Monday quit Janata Dal (United) and resigned from all party positions and launched a new political party ‘Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal’. This development in Bihar politics comes when Kushwaha has been at loggerheads with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Kushwaha announced the name of his party – Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal and said that he has been made its national president. The tussle between the two which has been going on for months came to an end today with the announcement, however, Kushwaha attacked Nitish while launching the political party. “We’ve decided to form a new party – Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal. This has been decided unanimously. I’ve been made its national president. The party will take forward the legacy of Karpoori Thakur. We’ll work towards rejecting the agreement made with RJD,” he said. He said that when Nitish Kumar became the Chief Minister after years RJD’s rule he did well, however, he lost track and the path he opted at the end was “bad for him and the party”. “A new political innings is beginning today. Barring a few, everyone in JD(U) was expressing concern…A meeting was held with elected colleagues and decision was taken…Nitish Kumar did well in the beginning but in the end, the path on which he started walking is bad for him and Bihar, and the party,” he said.