In a high-stakes political maneuver in Bihar, Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) chief Upendra Kushwaha is pushing hard for a Rajya Sabha berth for himself and an MLC seat for his son, Deepak Prakash. Late Monday night, Kushwaha held crucial meetings in Delhi with Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Nitin Nabin at Shah’s residence. Sources reveal the discussions centered on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, where Kushwaha is keen to secure his ticket on his party’s symbol.
Kushwaha’s ambitions come with a backstory. During the recent assembly polls, BJP had promised support for his son’s MLC nomination. However, merging RLM into BJP—a proposal floated by a senior Bihar BJP leader—seems off the table for now. Kushwaha prefers to contest independently, leveraging his influence among Koeri voters. His party holds just four MLAs, making an independent Rajya Sabha bid challenging without BJP’s backing.
BJP’s calculus is clear. Accommodating Kushwaha could boost its assembly strength from 89 to 93 seats and add to its Rajya Sabha tally. In return, they want RLM’s merger, paving the way for Kushwaha’s return to the Upper House and potential central ministry berth. Disgruntled RLM legislators could also find spots in the state cabinet from BJP’s quota. While Kushwaha hasn’t commented, post-election merger remains a possibility.
This development underscores the delicate alliance dynamics in Bihar’s NDA camp. Kushwaha’s past stints in Rajya Sabha and Union ministry make him a valuable asset, but BJP will weigh the costs. As elections near, all eyes are on whether the saffron party bends to his wishes or imposes its terms. The coming days will reveal if family legacy trumps party loyalty in this political chess game.