"It was self-destructive move by Nitish to go with RJD": Upendra Kushwaha rubbishes rumours of him joining JD (U)
Dec 26, 2023
Patna (Bihar) [India], December 26 : Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal (RLJD) president Upendra Kushwaha on Tuesday took a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his decision to split with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and merge with Lalu Prasad Yadav's party- RJD, saying that the move by Kumar in 2022 was "self-destructive."
"It was a self-destructive move by Nitish Kumar to go with RJD and announce Tejashwi Yadav's name. It's being proven. JD (U) has nowhere to go now. Nitish Kumar should get back; why would we?" the RLJD chief said this while speaking to ANI.
On being asked about Nitish Kumar returning to the National Democratic Alliance, Kushwaha said that the BJP would take a decision if it wanted the Bihar CM back in its alliance with the NDA.
"If he (Nitish Kumar) comes to NDA, then BJP leaders have to take the decision...If Nitish Kumar announces publicly that his alliance with RJD has ended then it would be BJP's decision to include him or not," he added.
In August 2022, Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar's chief minister for a record eighth time, a day after snapping ties with the BJP-led NDA and joining hands with the RJD to form a 'Mahagathbandhan' government.
Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha quit Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United) and launched a new political party - Rashtriya Lok Janta Dal (RLJD) in February this year.
Kushwaha, who was Union minister of state for HRD in the Narendra Modi government from 2014 to 2018, returned to JD (U) in March 2021 after merging his eight-year-old party the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP).