BJP ally RLSP heading for a split

Patna, Aug 19 (PTI) Union minister Upendra Kushwaha-ledRashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), an NDA constituent, isheading for a split with the party today suspending an MP andan MLA for alleged anti-party activities. Based on the recommendations of party’s disciplinarycommittee chief and MP Ram Kumar Sharma, the National Councilhas decided to suspend Lok Sabha member Arun Kumar and MLALallan Paswan for indulging in anti-party activities, said astatement by RLSP’s Principal General Secretary Shivraj Singh. RLSP which had contested the 2014 general election withBJP as an ally has three Lok Sabha MPs in Bihar. They areUpendra Kushwaha (Karakat), Arun Kumar (Jehanabad) and RamKumar Sharma (Sitamarhi). It has two MLAs in 243-member Bihar Assembly — LallanPaswan (Chenari) and Sudhansu Sekhar (Harlakhi). The statement said former national general secretaryBinod Kushwaha has also been suspended, besides the two. A rival faction headed by Arun Kumar had on August 17held a meeting at Patna which was attended by Lallan Paswanand others and removed Union Minister of State for HumanResources Development (HRD) Upendra Kushwaha and appointedKumar as new party chief in his place. Infighting intensified in the RLSP whose majority leadershad moved away from JD(U) before Lok Sabha poll in 2014 toform a new party and join hands with BJP. Now the dissentingfaction is accusing Kushwaha of having links with peopleallegedly involved in hawala trade. Reacting to his suspension, Jehanabad MP Arun Kumar toldPTI today that the suspension was "illegal" and holds norelevance as the party’s national council had on August 17removed Upendra Kushwaha as chief of the party. MLA Lallan Paswan also trashed the suspension saying itwas "undemocratic" and the group led by Kushwaha did not havethe right to take action against them. Both Kumar and Paswan said they would soon approach theElection Commission to recognise them as real RLSP. They said they would stay in NDA. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is our leader. We foughtelection in his name so we would continue to work under hisleadership in the NDA," Kumar said. While Paswan has dissented, the second MLA SudhansuSekhar said he would remain with Kushwaha. Sekhar was elected from Harlakhi seat after a by-pollfollowing the death of his father Basant Kushwaha who died aday before the new legislators were to take oath in Novemberlast year. PTI SNS NNSRY