RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha set to join UPA in Delhi today

More than a week after quitting the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), former Union cabinet minister Upendra Kushwaha is all set to join the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) on Thursday, December 20.

Reliable sources confirmed to National Herald that RLSP chief will announce his decision to join UPA at a press conference at around 4 pm in Delhi.

“The conference will be held at the Press Club of India as it is centrally located,” said the source on the condition of anonymity.

Besides them, president of the Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and former Chief Minister of Bihar, Jitan Ram Manjhi and in-charge of the Bihar Congress, Shakti Singh Gohil will talk to the media.

After the joint press conference, UPA leaders will constitute a coordination committee which will take a final call on the issues related to the seat sharing, added the source.

Talks between RLSP and the UPA partners are almost final, said a RLSP leader.

Former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha had recently resigned from the Modi cabinet after severing ties with the BJP. Later, he quit the alliance too.

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel met Kushwaha at the latter’s residence, after his exit from the BJP-led alliance. Political pundits believe that Kushwaha’s decision to join UA will help Congress to build a momentum against the BJP in Bihar.

The NDA alliance had swept the Lok Sabha elections in 2014, winning 31 of the state’s 40 seats. RLSP got three seats and Kushwaha was appointed state Minister of State for HRD after the Modi taking oath as the PM.