Kushwaha to join Grand Alliance today

PATNA:

Rashtriya Lok Samata Party

(RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha is set to join Grand Alliance in Bihar on Thursday. Kushwaha had a series of meetings with RJD and Congress leaders in Delhi on Wednesday. The formal announcement is likely to be made at a press conference in the national capital on Thursday, Congress sources told TOI.


Kushwaha, who severed ties with the BJP-led NDA and resigned as Union minister on December 10, accused PM Narendra Modi of reducing the Union cabinet to his “rubber stamp”.

Contacted over phone, RLSP national general secretary and spokesperson Madhaw Anand confirmed the development and said a formal announcement would be made at a joint press conference at 4pm in New Delhi on Thursday. “The venue will be finalized tomorrow morning,” he said.

Bihar Congress incharge Shaktisinh Gohil, former Union minister Sharad Yadav, Kushwaha, RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, HAM(S) chief and former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi would address the joint press conference, Anand said.

Sources said Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is on a personal trip to Himachal Pradesh, may return to Delhi and attend the joint press conference. “Right now, I can’t confirm about Rahul’s presence, but many senior Congress leaders will be there,” Gohil told TOI.

Anand also said the Grand Alliance leaders, including Kushwaha, would hold a joint meeting around 6pm to chalk out the future action plan in Bihar for the 2019 parliamentary election.

Sources said the GA leaders would also constitute a coordination committee, which would take a final call on seat sharing among the alliance partners. A basic formula for seat-sharing would also be discussed at Thursday meet, sources said.

Earlier on Saturday, Congress leader Ahmed Patel had called on Kushwaha in Delhi, fuelling speculation that the RLSP chief may join the Grand Alliance.


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