The political stability of Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) in Bihar is under severe threat, putting the ministerial future of Deepak Prakash, the son of party chief Upendra Kushwaha, in serious jeopardy. Three of the party's four MLAs are reportedly on the verge of splitting from the RLM and staking claim to the organization within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Roots of the Rebellion: Anger Over Dynastic Move
The simmering discontent within the RLM ranks erupted after Upendra Kushwaha, whose own Rajya Sabha term ends in April 2024, chose to nominate his son, Deepak Prakash, as a minister from his quota. This decision bypassed his wife, Sasaram MLA Snehlata, and shocked party colleagues. The three rebel MLAs—Rameshwar Mahto (Bajpatti), Madhav Anand (Madhubani), and Alok Kumar Singh (Dinara)—are furious, viewing the move as a blatant betrayal of the party's founding principles against dynastic politics.
Rameshwar Mahto did not mince words when contacted. He called the decision to make Deepak a minister "wrong" and expressed disappointment that Kushwaha did not heed their concerns. "I came with Kushwaha for his stand against dynastic politics. We launched RLM with 'Virasat Bachao Naman Yatra'. I could never imagine he is floating the party for 'Parivar Bachao aur Badhao' politics," Mahto stated, highlighting the core ideological rift.
Immediate Political Consequences for Deepak Prakash and Kushwaha
This impending split carries immediate and severe consequences. As per constitutional mandate, Minister Deepak Prakash must become a member of the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) within six months of his appointment to continue in the Nitish Kumar cabinet. If the three MLAs break away, the RLM's strength in the assembly diminishes critically. In such a scenario, neither the BJP nor the JD(U)—the two major NDA partners—are likely to propose Deepak's name for an MLC seat, effectively ending his ministerial tenure.
The rebellion also casts a dark shadow over Upendra Kushwaha's own political future. With five Rajya Sabha seats from Bihar falling vacant in April, Kushwaha's hopes for a renewal of his term now hang in the balance, dependent on the support of an NDA that may see his party weakened.
A Familiar Script and What Lies Ahead
The current crisis mirrors the 2021 split in the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), where five of six MPs rebelled against Chirag Paswan, leading the Speaker to recognize his uncle, Pashupati Kumar Paras, as the parliamentary party leader. Paras was subsequently inducted into the Union cabinet.
The rebels have already shown their defiance by skipping a 'litti party' hosted by Kushwaha to resolve internal differences. Instead, they chose to meet BJP leader Nitin Nabin on the same day, a move political analysts see as significant positioning. While Madhav Anand publicly claimed the party is "united," his tone was described as tongue-in-cheek.
RLM insiders suggest that Kushwaha's daughter-in-law also harbors political ambitions, further complicating internal dynamics. However, chief spokesman Ram Pukar Sinha maintains that the party remains united and is working to strengthen itself. The coming days will reveal whether the three MLAs formally exit, potentially altering Bihar's political equations and delivering a stern lesson on the perils of dynastic maneuvering in modern Indian politics.
