Upendra Kushwaha joins Mahagathbandhan in Delhi, says 'felt humiliated in NDA'

The former Union minister joining the UPA is likely to provide a fillip to the formation of a grand alliance in Bihar to counter the NDA combine of Bhartiya Janata Party-Janata Dal(U)-Lok Janshakti Party. The saffron alliance had swept the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, winning 31 of Bihar’s 40 seats.

Upendra Kushwaha joins UPA

New Delhi: RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha who recently exited the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on a bitter note formally joined the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on Thursday. Inclusion of Kushwaha’s RLSP into the UPA was under the presence of Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD)Sharad Yadav and Congress leaders Ahmed Patel and Shaktisinh Gohil in Delhi. The former Union minister joining the UPA is likely to provide a fillip to the formation of a grand alliance in Bihar to counter the NDA combine of Bhartiya Janata Party-Janata Dal(U)-Lok Janshakti Party. The saffron alliance had swept the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, winning 31 of Bihar’s 40 seats. In a press briefing, Kushwaha said he felt humiliated being in the NDA. He thanked Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad Yadav for respecting him and inducting his party into the UPA. Kushwaha alleged that BJP was bent upon breaking his party. "Mr. Modi had promised education, healthcare and employment in Bihar during elections. But, youth of Bihar are still migrating in large numbers to other parts of country for livelihood. Mr. Modi has failed on his promises,"he said. Welcoming him into the UPA fold, Bihar Congress chief Shakti Singh said those parties who are joining the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ are concerned about the country and Bihar and that’s the reason behind them snapping ties with the NDA. “Shri Upendra Kushwaha, for the greater good of the country and Bihar, resigned from his position, left NDA and has joined UPA. This is an alliance based on ideology and values." Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav said the alliance believes in saving the constitution and saving institutions like the CBI. “BJP has betrayed and misled people of the country. The tyrannical regime of PM Modi is front of all of you.” "This is not an alliance of political parties, but an alliance of voices of people. This is a fight against people who have betrayed the country. There is an undeclared emergency in the country today,"he said. Tejashwi also launched a scathing attack on Nitish Kumar saying “the Bihar government is a double engine government.” Using some strong words, Tejashwi said “Nitish has raped the mandate given by the people of Bihar.” “The quality of education in the state is in miserable condition about which even the higher courts have taken cognisance.” Tejashwi urged other parties to join the UPA by sacrificing ego for national interest.