Kushwaha fires paigham-e-kheer salvo at NDA

RLSP chief and Union Minister of State Upendra Kushwaha fired a salvo at his rivals in the NDA and said that some people in the BJP led alliance did not want to see Narendra Modi retaining the high office and so they were spreading rumours about seat sharing formula.

“I am not going to tell you who they are but I will definitely disclose them at the opportune time,” said Kushwaha who is reportedly not feeling comfortable in the NDA particularly after the entry of his bête noire and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar. On many occasions he made certain remarks which were read in the political circles as his indication of leaving the NDA and every time his comments were welcomed by the RJD.

His latest remark was about ingredients of Rs kheer’ (a sweet dish made of rice and milk) and said he would seek milk from Yaduvanshi (Yadav) and rice from Kushwaha, sugar from backwards and dry fruits from dalits. Further expanding his kheer politics he said he would seek Rs dastar-khwan’ (cloth on which food is served) from Muslims. “I intend to do welfare for all sections of the society. I wish to make kheer because I am not among those cooking ‘khyali’ imaginary pulao,” said the Union MOS.

Kushwaha who faced criticism for his remark by the NDA allies, asserted on Friday saying he would start a programme “paigham-e-kheer” from September 25 and travel across Bihar to spread his message of social harmony. The BJP liked the date of his programme because it is also the death anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

He said his statement symbolising kheer was misconstrued as he was speaking about social trust and brotherhood. Yadav, he added, did not necessarily mean RJD and similarly no party has copyright over dalits and tribal or backwards.

On the reports in media about the seat sharing formula in the NDA, Kushwaha said he was not aware about it and there had been no talks on top level so far. But those who know Kushwaha and his ambitions well are of the view that all his statements and acts were calculated and he was gearing up for hard bargain whether it is in the NDA or in another alliance.

As per the unconfirmed reports on seat sharing RLSP might not get more than two seats and on the other hand in mahagathbandhan Jitan Ram Manjhi is his bitter critic who said Kushwaha was trying to ride two boats simultaneously. However, RJD’s Tejashwi Prasad Yadav was more than eager to have RLSP in the grand alliance.