Upendra Kushwaha

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Upendra Kushwaha
The Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shri Upendra Kushwaha addressing at the inauguration of the “Summer Fiesta”, in New Delhi on May 22, 2018.JPG
Former Minister of State for Human Resource Development
In office
26 May 2014 – 10 December 2018
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byShashi Tharoor
Member of the India Parliament
In office
16 May 2014 – 23 May 2019
Preceded byMahabali Singh
Succeeded byMahabali Singh
ConstituencyKarakat
Chairperson
Rashtriya Lok Samata Party
In office
13 March 2013 – 2021
Preceded byPost Established
President of parliamentary board of Janata Dal (United)
Assumed office
2021
Member of Legislative Council, Bihar.
Assumed office
2021
Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly
In office
2000–2005
Personal details
Born
Upendra Singh

(1960-02-06) 6 February 1960 (age 61)
Vaishali district, Bihar, India
Political partyJanata Dal (United) (2021—present)
Other political
affiliations		Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (2013—2021)

Janata Dal (United) (2009—2013)
Rashtriya Samata Party (2007—2009)
Janata Dal (United) (2004—2007)

Samata Party (2000—2004)
Alma materBihar University
As of 4 March, 2016
Source: My Neta

Upendra Singh Kushwaha (born 6 February 1960)[1] is an Indian politician and former Minister of State for Human Resources and Development in the Government of India.[2] He is former MP from the Karakat constituency in Rohtas district, Bihar. He is a former member of the Rajya Sabha. He was the leader of his own party the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, until it merged with Janata Dal (United) in 2021.[3][4][5]

Early life[]

Upendra Singh was born to Muneshwar Singh and Muneshwari Devi[6] on 6 February 1960 in Vaishali, Bihar into a middle-class family. He graduated from Science College, Patna and then did MA in Political Science from BR Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur. Kushwaha also worked as a lecturer in the politics department of Samata College. Later he added Kushwaha to his name.[1]

Politics[]

Upendra Kushwaha stepped into the world of politics in 1985. From 1985 to 1988, he was the state general secretary of Yuva Lok Dal.[citation needed]

Later, he became National General-Secretary, Yuva Janata Dal, 1988–93. He had also worked as General-Secretary for Samata Party, 1994–2002. Kushwaha was Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly in 2000-2005 and appointed as Deputy Leader (Samata Party) Bihar Legislative Assembly. In March 2004 after loksabha election Sushil Modi was elected to Loksabha and the same time number of MLA's of JD(U) increased than BJP. Since leader of JD(U) changed his party. So kushwaha became leader of opposition.[7][2]

Upendra Kushwaha addressing a gathering, on the occasion of the CBSE Teachers' award 2015, in New Delhi on 3 September 2016.

Kushwaha started his electoral politics in 2000 winning from Jandaha.[1] He was dismissed from the Janata Dal (United) in 2007.[8] Kushwaha founded the Rashtriya Samata Party in February 2009. The party was formed in the backdrop of alleged marginalisation of the Koeri caste and autocratic rule by the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar. The formation of the party was supported by Chhagan Bhujbal, the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra.[9] In November 2009, the party was merged into the Janata Dal (United) with the mending of ties between Kushwaha and Kumar.[8]

On 4 January 2013, Upendra Kushwaha who at the time was a Rajya Sabha member resigned from the Janata Dal (United). He alleged that the Nitish model had failed and that the law and order situation was becoming as bad as it had been 7 years ago. He further alleged that the Nitish Kumar runs his government through autocratic means and that he had turned the Janata Dal (United) into his "pocket organisation".[10] Kushwaha founded the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party on 3 March 2013 and unveiled the name and flag of his party at a rally at the historic Gandhi Maidan.[2] He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by Narendra Modi. He was elected from the Karakat constituency and was appointed as Minister of State in Human Resource Development ministry.[11][12] In December 2018, he resigned from the ministry and left the NDA, accusing Modi of not fulfilling his poll promises regarding Bihar.[13]

Shri Pranab Mukherjee administering the oath as Minister of State to Shri Upendra Kushwaha, at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi

Initially, Kushwaha indicated his discontent with the NDA leadership due to diminishing importance as an ally. Kushwaha's party RLSP finally broke out from NDA alliance as it was not given appropriate seats in Lok Sabha elections of 2019. The NDA leadership was skeptical of Kushwaha's influence on member of Koeri caste and believed that even without his support they could win the elections in Bihar. It is believed that Nitish Kumar too holds considerable hold on both koeri and kurmi community, as a counter to which BJP had earlier selected Keshav Prasad Maurya as its Uttar Pradesh chief. Hence, they were ready to face exodus of Kushwaha. Meanwhile, they were sure of reaping the popularity of Nitish, who was now an ally of BJP and had gained considerable reputation in Bihar due to his development model.[14][15][16]

Kushwaha hence joined United Progressive Alliance front, which contained Rashtriya Janata Dal, Hindustani Awam Morcha, as well as Vikassheel Insaan Party.He contested 2019 Lok Sabha election from two seats namely Karakat as well as Ujiyarpur.[17] Kushwaha lost from both the seats.[18] The grand alliance of above mentioned parties under the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav was not able to win even a single seat in Bihar in 2019 Lok Sabha election.[19]

Upendra Kushwaha and Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey and the Minister of State for Defence, Shri Subhash Ramrao Bhamre at the inauguration of the Festival-cum-Exhibition “Azadi 70 Saal - Yaad Karo Kurbani, Mera Desh Mera Gaurav”.

In the course of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Upendra Kushwaha's speech sparked controversy when he referred to the newly formed alliance of his party and Rashtriya Janata Dal as 'Kheer'. According to political analysts, RLSP represents Kushwahas who are also called Koeris in Bihar while RJD represents Yadavs. The traditional occupation of these castes being growing paddy as well as cattle domestication. Hence, reference to Kheer was said to be the implicit indication to alliance of two influential backward castes.[14] After losing in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Kushwaha once again made a controversial statement. He warned NDA leadership that if the result of elections is deteriorated, the blood will flow on streets. However, later on a notice from Election Commission, he clarified that his intention was not of provoking violence.[20]

In September 2020, prior to the election to Bihar Legislative Assembly, Upendra Kushwaha's party RLSP eschewed the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress led coalition which was formed during the Lok Sabha elections of 2019 to counter National Democratic Alliance in Bihar. Kushwaha announced the formation of third front in partnership with Bahujan Samaj Party. This front contested on all 243 seats of Bihar Assembly against three other political fronts namely NDA, which included JD (U) and BJP; UPA, which included RJD, Congress and Vikassheel Insaan Party and one another alliance which contained various small parties led by Jan Adhikar Party.[21] Kushwaha sought the unacceptability of the leadership of Tejashwi Yadav as the reason behind his separation from the 'Grand Alliance'.[22]

The GSDF suffered a serious setback with only success in the form of AIMIM getting five seats in Muslim dominated areas of Bihar (particularly Simanchal) and BSP managing to get one seats. Though the allies had obtained less percentage of votes compared to Kushwaha's RLSP (it secured 1.77% votes), it failed to win any seats.[23] Also; the RLSP showed good presence in number of constituencies including Dinara and Saffron.[24]

Kushwaha parted his ways with Janata Dal (United) on two occasions, but after the split of 2013, his political graph went down and the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party suffered massive defeats in various elections, most notably in the Lok Sabha elections of 2019 and the assembly elections of 2020. The weaning away of support of Kushwaha caste also resulted in setback for JD(U), which was reduced to 43 seats in 2020 election to Bihar Legislative Assembly. This led to a merger in which RLSP was merged into its parent JD(U) and Kushwaha was made party's parliamentary board president.[5] Soon after his induction into JD(U), Kushwaha was nominated to the Legislative Council, the upper house of Bihar Legislature.[25]

Tenure as Minister of state for Human Resource Development[]

  • Upendra Kushwaha and Prakash Javadekar releasing the publication, at the presentation ceremony of the National level Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar, 2016–17 to the 172 selected Government Schools in the country, in New Delhi.

  • Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Mrs. Kobita Ramdanee-Jugnauth being received by the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shri Upendra Kushwaha, on their arrival at IGI Airport, in New Delhi.jpg

  • Ram Vilas Paswan and the Minister of State for Human Resource Development, Shri Upendra Kushwaha perform Yoga, on the occasion of the 4th International Day of Yoga 2018, in Hajipur, Bihar.

  • The Union Minister of state for Human Resource Development, Shri Upendra Kushwaha presented the National level Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar, 2016–17 to the 172 selected Government Schools in the country, at a function, in New Delhi.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Upendra Kushwaha: The man trying hard to stay relevant". The Indian Express. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Gupta, Surabhi, ed. (6 October 2015). "RLSP के संस्थापक और बिहार के काराकट से सांसद उपेंद्र कुशवाहा का राजनीतिक सफर". Aaj Tak (in Hindi). Archived from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  3. ^ "RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha quits as Union Minister". Business Line. 10 December 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  4. ^ Lansford, Tom, ed. (2015). "India - National Democratic Alliance". Political Handbook of the World 2015. United States: CQ Press. ISBN 978-1-4833-7157-3.
  5. ^ a b "RLSP merges with JD(U), Kushwaha made chairman of party's parliamentary board". Indian Express. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  6. ^ "Upendra Kushwaha: Age, Biography, Education, Wife, Caste, Net Worth & More - Oneindia". www.oneindia.com. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  7. ^ Oneindia.com"Upendra -kushwaha". 31 May 2020. Archived from the original on 20 June 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b Banerjee, Shoumojit (27 November 2009). "Rashtriya Samata Party merges with JD(U)". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020.
  9. ^ Singh, Abhay (8 February 2009). "Upendra Kushwaha forms new political party". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020.
  10. ^ "JD(U) MP Upendra Kushwaha resigns, attacks Nitish Kumar". The Economic Times. 4 January 2013. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020.
  11. ^ "BJP ties up with OBC leader Upendra Kushwaha in Bihar".
  12. ^ "BJP may bring in Kushwaha as OBC face".
  13. ^ "Upendra Kushwaha resigns as Union minister, likely to quit NDA". The Economic Times. 10 December 2018.
  14. ^ a b Ayushman, Kumar. "This 'kheer' cooking in Bihar may leave a bad taste in the BJP's mouth". theprint.in. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  15. ^ KAUSHIKA, PRAGYA. "Upendra Kushwaha's exit could undo BJP's carefully planned Bihar caste coalition". theprint.in. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  16. ^ Tewary, Ravish. "amit-shahs-choice-of-up-bjp-chief-to-dampen-nitish-kumars-pitch". economic times. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  17. ^ "lok-sabha-polls-upendra-kushwaha-to-contest-from-two-seats". indianexpress. 10 July 2020.
  18. ^ "'I Accept People's Verdict, Need For Introspection,' Says RLSP's Upendra Kushwaha". NDTV. 23 May 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  19. ^ Thakur, Rajesh Kumar (25 May 2019). "After humiliating defeat in Lok Sabha elections, blame game begins in Bihar's grand alliance". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  20. ^ "upendra-kushwaha-clarifies-bloodshed-remark". timesofindia.com. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  21. ^ "Mayawati-led BSP joins hands with RLSP, backs Upendra Kushwaha for CM post". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  22. ^ "In setback for Tejashwi Yadav, Upendra Kushwaha set to exit opposition alliance over leadership issue". The Economic Times. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Exit of smaller parties dented Mahagathbandhan's chances of regaining power in Bihar". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Owaisi, Mayawati or Upendra Kushwaha: Why RJD-led Grand Alliance lost fort Bihar to NDA?". Zee News. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  25. ^ "Upendra Kushwaha became MLC". Aajtak. Archived from the original on 25 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
Party political offices
Preceded by
 Leader of the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party in the 16th Lok Sabha
2014–2021 		President of parliamentary board of Janata Dal (United)
incumbent

Further reading[]

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