In the reaction of Upendra Kushwaha after his defeat from Karakat Lok Sabha seat in Lok Sabha elections 2024, dissatisfaction with NDA was clearly visible. In such a situation, now NDA is talking about sending Upendra Kushwaha to Rajya Sabha. According to sources of Rashtriya Lok Morcha, Upendra Kushwaha will file nomination on August 21 at 11 am.
21st August is the last day for filing nominations. On the other hand, BJP will have its candidate on the second seat. The state unit has shortlisted the names of the contenders and handed them over to the central leadership of BJP. BJP can announce the names of the candidates today itself. In such a situation, sending Upendra Kushwaha to Rajya Sabha by NDA clearly means that efforts are being made to woo him before the Bihar elections.
Upendra Kushwaha was the NDA candidate from Karakat seat in the Lok Sabha elections. Bhojpuri singer and actor Pawan Singh also contested from here. While Pawan Singh was given a ticket by BJP from Asansol. Pawan rejected the BJP ticket and stood as an independent candidate from Karakat. In such a situation, when the result from Karakat seat went in favor of Rajaram Singh of the Left party, Upendra Kushwaha had said that everyone knows whether Pawan Singh became the factor of his defeat or was made to do so. Everyone knows whether a mistake was made or a mistake was made to be made. At that time his satisfaction was clearly visible and discussions of infighting in NDA had also started.
Upendra Kushwaha broke ties with JDU twice and NDA twice. Then twice his party merged with JDU and twice he joined NDA. Now once again he is with NDA. In 2007 JDU expelled Upendra. After this he formed a party named Rashtriya Samta Party. In 2009 this party again merged with JDU and he went to Rajya Sabha.
In 2013, while being a Rajya Sabha member, Upendra Kushwaha once again resigned from JDU and formed a party named Rashtriya Lok Samta Party. After this, his party became a part of NDA in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. He won from Karakat seat and was made Minister of State for Human Resource Development in the Modi government. In 2018, he again left NDA alleging non-fulfillment of promises. After the assembly elections in 2020, Upendra Kushwaha’s party RLSP merged with JDU. JDU sent him to the Legislative Council.
In 2023, once again Upendra Kushwaha showed rebellious attitude and broke away from JDU and formed RLJD, which later became Rashtriya Lok Morcha. With this, once again Upendra Kushwaha joined NDA before the 2024 elections and in this election he had to face defeat from Karakat seat.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)