Bihar polls: Upendra Kushwaha deserts Mahagathbandhan, is CM face of new coalition

New Delhi: After days of strained ties with the Rashtriya Janata Party (RJD), the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) bid goodbye to the Mahagathbandhan and joined hands with BSP to fight Bihar assembly polls.

The newly formed coalition of RLSP-BSP and a few regional parties have reposed faith in Kushwaha and projected him as the chief minister face of the new alliance.

BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday said that her party will fight the upcoming Bihar polls in alliance with RLSP and the latter will be the chief ministerial candidate.

“We have decided to fight elections in Bihar in alliance with Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Samta Party and other parties. Upendra Kushwaha will be the CM if this alliance gets the blessing of people of Bihar in the polls,” Mayawati said at a press conference.

“Our alliance has been formed keeping the interests of Dalits, tribals, OBC, minorities and upper-caste poor in mind. Bihar needs a change based on the philosophy of ‘Sarvajan Hitaay, Sarvajan Sukhaay’,” she said.

वर्तमान में कुशासन वाली @NitishKumar सरकार से मुक्ति के बदले 15 साल पूर्व जैसी सरकार से बिहारवासियों का सामना न हो इसीलिए हम पढ़ाई, कमाई, दवाई, सिंचाई, सुनवाई और कार्रवाई के लिए प्रतिबद्ध बेहतर सरकार देने का वादा करते हैं। ऐसे विचारों वाली सभी दलों को साथ आने का आह्वान करते हैं। pic.twitter.com/OLeZ5nnhrh

— RLSP (@RLSPIndia) September 29, 2020

“I will not be able to go to the election campaign because of coronavirus situation. I appeal to people to give us an opportunity to serve them,” she said.

The assembly elections in Bihar will be held on October 28, November 3 and 7 and the counting of votes will take place on November 10.

With RLSP and BSP deciding to fight the polls together, a third front appears to be emerging in the state apart from the ruling NDA and the likely alliance of RJD, Congress and Left parties.

RLSP Bihar President joins RJD

Meanwhile, the Bihar president of RLSP, Bhudeo Chaudhury has joined Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) led by Tejashwi Yadav.

Chaudhary has contested 2019 Lok Sabha elections against LJP LJP chief and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan. Chaudhary joined RJD days after former union minister Kushwaha said his party will remain in the grand alliance only if there is a change in the leadership of RJD.