Patna, December 13 : A fresh rift has surfaced within Upendra Kushwaha led Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) after party MLA Rameshwar Mahato publicly questioned the party’s leadership, triggering speculation of growing internal dissent.
Taking to social media, Mahto wrote that success in politics is not achieved merely through speeches but through genuine intentions and strong policies. Without naming anyone directly, he remarked that when leadership intent becomes unclear and policies begin to tilt towards self-interest rather than public welfare, the public cannot be misled for long.
He added that today’s citizens are aware and closely scrutinise every decision and intention of political leaders. Mahto remarks have fuelled rumours that he is unhappy over not being inducted as a minister. The speculation gained momentum after RLM chief Upendra Kushwaha managed to secure a ministerial berth for his son Deepak Prakash in the newly formed Nitish Kumar government despite him not being a member of either House of the state legislature. The move which bypassed the party’s four elected MLAs has reportedly caused unease within the party ranks.
This is not the first instance of dissent emerging from within the RLM. Party insiders say differences became visible even during the Bihar Assembly session when MLAs were seen divided on several issues. The situation further intensified after Kushwaha appointed Madhav Anand as the leader of the legislative party and his wife Snehlata as the chief whip. It may be noted that the Rashtriya Lok Morcha contested six seats in the recent Assembly elections and won four.
Questions regarding nepotism within the RLM have been raised earlier as well but Mahato public post has brought the issue into sharper focus. While the party leadership has so far refrained from issuing an official response, the MLA remarks have placed the RLM in an uncomfortable political position.Known for frequent political ups and downs, Upendra Kushwaha now faces fresh challenges as discontent within his own party appears to have spilled into the open setting the stage for further controversy in Bihar’s political landscape.
