Upendra Kushwaha

Upendra Singh was born to Muneshwar Singh and Muneshwari Devi[6] on 6 February 1960 in Vaishali, Bihar into a middle-class family. He graduated from Science College, Patna and then did MA in Political Science from BR Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur. Kushwaha also worked as a lecturer in the politics department of Samata College. Later he added Kushwaha to his name.[2]

Upendra Kushwaha stepped into the world of politics in 1985. From 1985 to 1988, he was the state general secretary of Yuva Lok Dal.

Latter he became National General-Secretary, Yuva Janata Dal, 1988–93. He had also worked as General-Secretary for Samata Party, 1994–2002. Kushwaha was Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly in 2000-2005 and appointed as Deputy Leader (Samata Party) Bihar Legislative Assembly. In March 2004 after loksabha election Sushil Modi was elected to Loksabha and the same time number of MLA's of JD(U) increased than BJP. Since leader of JD(U) changed his party. So kushwaha became leader of opposition.[7][3]

Upendra Kushwaha addressing a gathering, on the occasion of the CBSE Teachers' award 2015, in New Delhi on September 03, 2016.

Kushwaha started his electoral politics in 2000 winning from Jandaha.[2] He was dismissed from the Janata Dal (United) in 2007.[8] Kushwaha founded the Rashtriya Samata Party in February 2009. The party was formed in the backdrop of alleged marginalisation of the Koeri caste and autocratic rule by the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar. The formation of the party was supported by Chhagan Bhujbal, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.[9] In November 2009, the party was merged into the Janata Dal (United) with the mending of ties between Kushwaha and Kumar.[8]

On 4 January 2013, Upendra Kushwaha who at the time was a Rajya Sabha member resigned from the Janata Dal (United). He alleged that the Nitish model had failed and that the law and order situation was becoming as bad as it had been 7 years ago. He further alleged that the Nitish Kumar runs his government through autocratic means and that he had turned the Janata Dal (United) into his "pocket organisation".[10] Kushwaha founded the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party on 3 March 2013 and unveiled the name and flag of his party at a rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan.[3] He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Narendra Modi. He was elected from the Karakat constituency and was appointed as Minister of State in Human Resource Development ministry.[11][12] In December 2018, he resigned from the ministry and left the NDA, accusing Modi of not fulfilling his poll promises regarding Bihar.[13]

Shri Pranab Mukherjee administering the oath as Minister of State to Shri Upendra Kushwaha, at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi

Initially, Kushwaha gave a number of indications to NDA leadership regarding his discontent due to diminishing importance as an ally. Kushwaha's party RLSP finally broke out from NDA alliance as it was not given appropriate seats in Lok Sabha elections of 2019. The NDA leadership was skeptical of Kushwaha's influence on member of Koeri caste and believed that even without his support they could win the elections in Bihar. It is believed that Nitish Kumar too holds considerable hold on both koeri and kurmi community, as a counter to which BJP had earlier selected Keshav Prasad Maurya as its Uttar Pradesh chief. Hence, they were ready to face exodus of Kushwaha. Meanwhile, they were sure of reaping the popularity of Nitish, who was now an ally of BJP and had gained considerable reputation in Bihar due to his development model.[14][15][16]

Kushwaha hence joined United Progressive Alliance front, which contained Rashtriya Janata Dal, Hindustani Awam Morcha, as well as Vikassheel Insaan Party.He contested 2019 Lok Sabha election from two seats namely Karakat as well as Ujiyarpur.[17] Kushwaha lost from both the seats.[18] The grand alliance of above mentioned parties under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav was not able to win even a single seat in Bihar in 2019 Lok Sabha election.[19]

Upendra Kushwaha and Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey and the Minister of State for Defence, Shri Subhash Ramrao Bhamre at the inauguration of the Festival-cum-Exhibition “Azadi 70 Saal - Yaad Karo Kurbani, Mera Desh Mera Gaurav”.

In the course of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Upendra Kushwaha's speech sparked controversy when he referred to the newly formed alliance of his party and Rashtriya Janata Dal as 'Kheer'. According to political analysts, RLSP represents Kushwahas who are also called Koeris in Bihar while RJD represents Yadavs. The traditional occupation of these castes being growing paddy as well as cattle domestication. Hence, reference to Kheer was said to be the implicit indication to alliance of two influential backward castes.[14] After losing in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Kushwaha once again made a controversial statement. He warned NDA leadership that if the result of elections is deteriorated, the blood will flow on streets. However, later on a notice from Election Commission, he clarified that his intention was not of provoking violence.[20]

In September 2020, prior to the election to Bihar Legislative Assembly, Upendra Kushwaha's party RLSP eschewed the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress led coalition which was formed during the Lok Sabha elections of 2019 to counter National Democratic Alliance in Bihar. Kushwaha announced the formation of third front in partnership with Bahujan Samaj Party. This front contested on all 243 seats of Bihar Assembly against three other political fronts namely NDA, which included JD (U) and BJP; UPA, which included RJD, Congress and Vikassheel Insaan Party and one another alliance which contained various small parties led by Jan Adhikar Party.[21] Kushwaha sought the unacceptability of the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav as the reason behind his separation from the 'Grand Alliance'.[22]

The GSDF suffered a serious setback with only success in the form of AIMIM getting five seats in Muslim dominated areas of Bihar (particularly Simanchal) and BSP managing to get one seats. Though the allies had obtained less percentage of votes compared to Kushwaha's RLSP (it secured 1.77% votes), it failed to win any seats.[23] Also; the RLSP showed good presence in number of constituencies including Dinara and Saffron.[24]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Upendra Kushwaha.

• "Jitan Ram Manjhi emerges critical player in poll-bound Bihar". The Times of India.