Countdown of saffron party has begun: Upendra Kushwaha on BJP's debacle in 5 states

'No power in the world can save them from getting defeated', Kushwaha said two days after severing ties with BJP.

Upendra Kushwaha/ PTI

New Delhi: Days after his split from BJP-led NDA, the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief and former union minister Upendra Kushwaha on Wednesday said that the countdown has begun for BJP and that no power can save the party from plunging further. His reaction to BJP’s debacle in the assembly elections in five states, came during a media interaction on the sidelines of an NCP event in Pune. Two days ago, Kushwaha had severed ties with the BJP and had resigned from the post of Minister of State for HRD. He had alleged the government of reducing the union cabinet of ministers to a “rubber stamp” and of betraying the backward classes and giving Bihar only ‘Jumlas’. He said he chose to snap ties with the NDA since the RSS's agenda was "not suitable" either for the country or for his party. On BJP's defeat in the state elections, Kushwaha said after the defeat in the Hindi heartland states, the countdown of the BJP has begun."No power in the world can save them from getting defeated," he said. He was attending an event organised on the 78th birthday of NCP leader Sharad Pawar. He was seen alongside NCP leader and former deputy CM of Maharashtra Chhagan Bhujbal. When quizzed whether he would go with NCP, Kushwaha did not give a clear answer and said he just came to extend his greetings on Pawar’s birthday. Upon his alliance prospects for 2019 he said “the party will discuss, deliberate and adopt the options that are available against the NDA." “Discussion on Rahul Gandhi’s leadership will commence after the grand alliance is helmed, nothing can be said as of now”, he said. “We have three options before us in Bihar, either to go alone, or to go with the Grand Alliance and another option is that of a third front.”