Former JD(U) leader floats new party in Bihar

New Delhi, Feb 15: With Lok Sabha polls drawing nearer, a new party has been floated in Bihar by a former JD(U) leader with an aim of luring a large chunk of OBC and upper caste votes in the state.

The newly-formed Rashtriya Samata Party, with Upendra Kuswaha as its president and Rambihari Singh as general secretary, will mainly focus on the issues of farmers and unemployment while working out caste combinations in the state.

"Even though Nitish government has been hailed on the development front, he has ignored the issues of farmers and unemployed," Kuswaha, who was leader of opposition from JD(U) during the previous RJD rule, told a news agency.

The community to which the former NCP leader belongs constitutes nearly ten per cent of Bihar's population and this has given Kuswaha a chance to mobilise the group.

Besides, the Nitish government's initiatives to form 'Mahadalit' commission and lure Muslim community are hard to digest for the upper community and in the "changed circumstances", the newly-floated party strives to win over the section.

"All the sections, which have not received social justice, will be taken into consideration in the changed scenario," said Kuswaha, also a former NCP Bihar unit, when asked about the caste-combinations on which his party will focus.

The leaders of the party recently held a rally in the state capital, which was attended by thousands of people.

"Lovely Anand, wife of former JD(U) leader Anand Mohan has pledged support to my party even as JD(U) leaders such as Sachidanand Sinha and Kishori Mahato have joined it," he said.

"Several other leaders from JD(U) including a Muzaffarpur MLA and leaders of other parties are expected to join the party," Kuswaha said.

Asked whether the party will have political tie-up with any major party for the upcoming polls, Singh said, "We are open to any option but will not compromise on conditions."

Kuswaha and Singh have together worked in the JD(U) and they were expelled from the party due to anti-party activities.

In the coming elections, the leaders said, land reforms and issues of terrorism and corruption will be to topmost priority.

However, the two leaders feel that the next year's assembly elections in Bihar will be a "litmus test" for their party and "the lot of future of the party will depend on that.”

Source : Zee News