Deepak Prakash’s elevation as minister ignites dissent and resignations across the RLM.
Upendra Kushwaha faces backlash within the RLM after senior leaders quit over his son’s induction into the Bihar cabinet (Photo: File)
NEW DELHI: All is not well within the Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), led by Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha, as growing resentment has erupted inside the party following the appointment of his son, Deepak Prakash, as a minister in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government. The decision has triggered a wave of protests and led to the resignation of several senior party leaders.
According to sources, RLM National Vice President Jitendra Nath, State Spokesperson Rasul Kumar, State General Secretary Pramod Yadav, and multiple other leaders resigned from the party's primary membership earlier this week. They have submitted a formal letter to RLM National President Upendra Kushwaha, expressing their opposition to the party's recent decisions and signalling a widening rift within the organisation.
In his resignation letter, Jitendra Nath wrote that he had worked with Upendra Kushwaha for the past nine years but now found himself unable to align with many of the political and organizational decisions being taken. Under such circumstances, he stated, it had become impossible to continue working together, making resignation from both the post and the party the only appropriate course of action."
Speaking to the media, Jitendra Nath alleged that during the recent Bihar Assembly elections, RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha failed to prioritise the party's interests during seat-sharing negotiations. He also questioned the appointment of Deepak Prakash as a minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet, claiming that the decision was motivated by Kushwaha's intention to promote his son. He further pointed out that while Kushwaha's wife won the election from Sasaram and became an MLA, she was not appointed a minister. According to him, this indicated a lack of trust on Upendra Kushwaha's part toward his own wife.
Jitendra also expressed dissatisfaction over Kushwaha's social media post citing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to justify his son's ministerial appointment. Significantly, RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha's son Deepak Prakash was appointed as a minister despite not having contested any election. There is widespread speculation that he will soon be elected to the Legislative Council through the upcoming MLC elections. In the assembly polls, the RLM contested six seats as part of the NDA alliance and secured victories in four. However, none of the winning MLAs were inducted into the cabinet.
Reacting to his resignation, party spokesperson Rasul Kumar described the move as "a one-sided affair that came to an end," accusing Upendra Kushwaha of falling into the trap of dynastic politics. "Now, there is no difference between him and those leaders who only promote their families," he remarked, underscoring the dissatisfaction brewing among the party's cadre.
Amid the mounting criticism, Upendra Kushwaha issued a clarification on social media. He stated that he had learned from past political experiences, highlighting how his previous party, the RLSP, saw many of its MLAs and MPs desert him. To prevent a repeat of that situation and to avoid another split, he said he appointed his son as a minister in the current government. The deepening crisis poses a serious challenge to the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, raising questions about its stability, leadership decisions, and future political course within the NDA alliance.
