PATNA: The fate of Bihar’s panchayati raj minister Deepak Prakash hangs in the balance as Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), founded and led by his father and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, looks set to split with three of the four party legislators likely to stake claim over the organisation as part of the NDA.The three MLAs — Rameshwar Mahto, Madhav Anand and Alok Kumar Singh — are reportedly angry with Kushwaha for making his son a minister despite his not being a member of either House of the state’s bicameral legislature. If that happens, neither BJP nor Janata Dal United — the two major NDA partners — will make Deepak an MLC, which he needs to become within six months to continue as a minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet.Everyone was surprised when Kushwaha, whose Rajya Sabha membership expires in April, named his son, Deepak, as a minister from RLM quota instead of wife and Sasaram MLA Snehlata. If RLM indeed splits, prospects of another Rajya Sabha term for Kushwaha may also dim. Five Bihar seats in the Lower House are falling vacant in April.Bajpatti MLA Rameshwar Mahto said, “The decision to make Deepak a minister was wrong. We hoped Kushwaha would see reason, but in vain. The three of us are together but have not decided our next step — whether to leave the party or not — yet.”Madhav Anand, who is MLA from Madhubani, told TOI on phone from Delhi that RLM was united. “We will sit and discuss things if there is any resentment,” he said.The three MLAs had skipped the recent “litti party” hosted by Kushwaha and preferred to meet Nitin Nabin the same day after his appointment as BJP national working president. Mahto was unsparing when reminded that Kushwaha made his son minister “to keep the party united”, as he had said.“CM Nitish Kumar is my mentor, who always believes in doing what he says. I came with Kushwaha for his stand against dynastic politics. I could never imagine that he is floating the party for ‘Parivar’ politics. I have a roaring business and do politics to serve the poor, not for ‘parivar’. Party workers have hopes from their representatives… I started a charitable trust hospital for the poor soon after election,” Mahto said.However, RLM chief spokesman Ram Pukar Sinha said the party is united and everyone is working hard to make it stronger.Kushwaha, who had earlier founded RLSP which he later merged with JDU, served as Union minister of state for education in the first Modi govt from 2014-2019. Since then, he or his party has had little success till the Nov 2025 Bihar assembly election in which RLM managed to win four seats.About the AuthorJai Narain PandeyThe writer has a vast experience of over 30 years in the field of journalism, as a reporter and a news editor. He has officiated as a bureau head and presided over the local desk in Patna and abroad. He has covered a variety of topics, from politics to sports, in India and abroad. He has covered top golfers and tennis players in tournaments held in Doha (Qatar).Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos”BJP People Are Mute” Owaisi Targets PM Modi Over Trump’s ‘Make Me Happy’ RemarkBMC Becomes Mega Battleground As Thackerays Reunite And Alliances Shift Ahead Of Civic Wars 2026Deepam row: Piyush Goyal Accuses MK Stalin Govt Of Targeting Hindu TraditionsDonald Trump, Venezuela And India: Prithviraj Chavan’s Remark On PM Modi Kidnapping Sparks Row’Hindus Will Not Be Allowed To Stay’: BNP Candidate’s Threat Sparks Alarm Amid Bangladesh KillingsNepal Imposes Curfew In Birgunj Near India Border After Social Media Sparks Religious TensionsHyderabad Techie Murdered In US: Father Denies Love Angle, Seeks Justice Across BordersIndia Speeds Up Chenab Hydropower Projects, Redrawing Indus Rivers Water Control Lines For PakistanPolitical War Erupts After JNU Slogans Target PM Modi Following Umar Khalid Bail Rejection VerdictUS Senator Claims India Cut Russian Oil Buys And Sought Trump Tariff Relief Amid Pressure Bid On Oil123PhotostoriesRobin Sharma reveals 5 super habits to be successful in lifeBirthday special: Bipasha Basu’s best movies to watch on OTTChef Sanjeev Kapoor shares 14 kitchen tips that make life easierHow to make Anda Paratha for breakfastJiya Shankar and her love for ethnic wear: Surreal looks in sarees, lehengas, and more12 railway stations and the foods they are famous forFull list of the winners of ‘MasterChef India’: From Pankaj Bhadouria to Mohammed Ashiq5 simple neck exercises to ease stiffness and restore mobilityWhere will you be this Makar Sankranti? 5 best destinations in India to witness the festivalFrom opening up about losing a leg in a tragic accident to being unemployed for 7 years after Naache Mayuri: When Sudha Chandran spoke about life, parent’s support and career123Hot PicksBudget 2026Vande Bharat Sleeper TrainPublic holidays January 2026Gold rate todayUS Visa BondsCigarette tax hikeBank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingSan Francisco 49ersPaige Bueckers vs Sophie Cunningham Net WorthWho is Lenny DykstraYouTube Ad Changes In VietnamWayne GretzkyKliff KingsburyKevin StefanskiChicago Bulls vs Boston CelticsTaylor SwiftWho is Kris Humphries
PATNA: The fate of Bihar’s panchayati raj minister Deepak Prakash hangs in the balance as Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), founded and led by his father and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha, looks set to split with three of the four party legislators likely to stake claim over the organisation as part of the NDA.The three MLAs — Rameshwar Mahto, Madhav Anand and Alok Kumar Singh — are reportedly angry with Kushwaha for making his son a minister despite his not being a member of either House of the state’s bicameral legislature. If that happens, neither BJP nor Janata Dal United — the two major NDA partners — will make Deepak an MLC, which he needs to become within six months to continue as a minister in the Nitish Kumar cabinet.Everyone was surprised when Kushwaha, whose Rajya Sabha membership expires in April, named his son, Deepak, as a minister from RLM quota instead of wife and Sasaram MLA Snehlata. If RLM indeed splits, prospects of another Rajya Sabha term for Kushwaha may also dim. Five Bihar seats in the Lower House are falling vacant in April.Bajpatti MLA Rameshwar Mahto said, “The decision to make Deepak a minister was wrong. We hoped Kushwaha would see reason, but in vain. The three of us are together but have not decided our next step — whether to leave the party or not — yet.”Madhav Anand, who is MLA from Madhubani, told TOI on phone from Delhi that RLM was united. “We will sit and discuss things if there is any resentment,” he said.The three MLAs had skipped the recent “litti party” hosted by Kushwaha and preferred to meet Nitin Nabin the same day after his appointment as BJP national working president. Mahto was unsparing when reminded that Kushwaha made his son minister “to keep the party united”, as he had said.“CM Nitish Kumar is my mentor, who always believes in doing what he says. I came with Kushwaha for his stand against dynastic politics. I could never imagine that he is floating the party for ‘Parivar’ politics. I have a roaring business and do politics to serve the poor, not for ‘parivar’. Party workers have hopes from their representatives… I started a charitable trust hospital for the poor soon after election,” Mahto said.However, RLM chief spokesman Ram Pukar Sinha said the party is united and everyone is working hard to make it stronger.Kushwaha, who had earlier founded RLSP which he later merged with JDU, served as Union minister of state for education in the first Modi govt from 2014-2019. Since then, he or his party has had little success till the Nov 2025 Bihar assembly election in which RLM managed to win four seats.
