New Delhi: Janata Dal (United) leader Upendra Kushwaha on Friday hit out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying that the party supremo "encouraged" unfavourable talks about him. Saying that JD(U) was weakening, he stressed his demand for a national executive meeting of the party. Kushwaha also asked the JD(U) supremo to find out who is his own and "who is not".
"For the last few days, some things are being said about me and Chief Minister (Nitish Kumar) has also encouraged those talks. Some saying there has been a deal with RJD... I reiterate my demand to hold a national executive meeting of the party," Upendra Kushwaha said at a press conference, as quoted by news agency ANI.
"I can only advise CM (Nitish Kumar) to identify who is his own and who is not," he added.
At the press conference, he again remarked that JD(U) was weakening. "We talked about the party weakening when I met him (CM Nitish) in the third week of December. Instead of doing something about it, he said you will go to the Bharatiya Janata Party, those were his words. The situation is not hidden from anyone."
The disgruntled leader said, that there is a need to get serious about the party's situation. "But to date, there has been no talk in that direction about strengthening the party."
"Not even once did the CM call us in the last two years," he said.
Kushwaha, the National Parliamentary Board Chief of the JD(U), also dismissed the allegations of leaving the party as he remarked, "Even if Nitish Kumar asks me to leave JD (U), I won’t. I have taken responsibility and will fight to save this party. I am disheartened with the current situation of JD(U)."
Meanwhile, responding to the remarks, CM Nitish Kumar again called for discussions to be held within the party forum.
"Have you ever seen discussions that take place within a political party talked about outside repeatedly? People should talk within the party... I have only affection, if someone goes from the party it doesn't matter. For JD(U), all this means nothing," he said, as quoted by ANI.
He further commented, "Why did he come back in 2021 after we were defeated in 2020. I will talk to him if he wants to speak to me. After Bharat Jodo Yatra ends, I will meet him if seeks a discussion. Elections are not far away."
Kushwaha's disgruntlement surfaced after Nitish Kumar ruled out having any other Deputy CM besides RJD's Tejashwi Yadav whom he has also believed to have declared as the future face of the ruling ‘Mahagathbandhan’.
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(With Agency Inputs)