Upendra Kushwaha, Who Quit NDA, Joins Congress’s Mahagathbandhan

The announcement was made by Congress’ Ahmed Patel at a press conference in Delhi, attended by Tejashwi Yadav, Sharad Yadav, Updendra Kushwaha, among others.

New Delhi, Dec., 20, 2018: Former Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha, who had recently walked out of the NDA fold, joined the Congress’ mahagathbandhan in Delhi on Thursday.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel made the announcement at a press conference in Delhi, which was attended by Tejashwi Yadav, Sharad Yadav, Updendra Kushwaha, among others.

“There is a gathbandhan in Bihar, it’s a matter of happiness that Upendra Kushwaha is joining the mahagathbandhan,” said Ahmed Patel.

Explaining his rationale for joining the Bihar mahagathbandhan, Kushwaha credited Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav for the “wholeheartedness” shown by them towards him.

“We had said that we have many options and UPA was one of them. The wholeheartedness shown by Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Yadav is one of the reasons I joined but the biggest reason I’m here is the people of Bihar,” said Kushwaha.

Earlier, in his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kushwaha said: “Having served in your council of ministers for last 55 months, I stand dejected and betrayed by your leadership. There has been fundamental problem in what you promised to the people before elections and what you have actually delivered after coming to power.”

Kushwaha was said to be in parleys with the Congress since he quit the NDA after a prolonged battle with the BJP over seat-sharing for the 2019 elections.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel had met Kushwaha after the latter quit the NDA. The UPA believes that the former minister’s decision to join it will help it build a momentum against the NDA in Bihar.

The move assumes significance in the run-up to the 2019 elections, especially at a time when the NDA is facing alliance trouble.