JDU leader Upendra Kushwaha has finally announced on Monday that he would quit the JDU and launch his own party putting the two-month long accusations and counter accusations to an end. He named his new party Rashtriya Lok Janta Dal. The decision was taken after two days of deliberations held by Kushwaha with his supporters.

Kushwaha’s exit happens at a time when the grand alliance in Bihar is preparing for its biggest show of strength in a joint rally on February 25. On the same day, Union home minister Amit Shah will also come to Bihar to address two public meetings. This is the second big exit from the JDU in the past one year, after that of former Union minister RCP Singh.

In March 2021, Kushwaha merged his earlier RLSP with JDU after suffering setbacks in the 2020 assembly polls. He was made the leader of the JDU parliamentary board. Sources told ET that Kushwaha was unhappy over his position and on not being given importance in the party structure as well as in the new alliance government of JDU, RJD, the Congress and Left parties.

For the past few days, Kushwaha has been constantly attacking Bihar CM Nitish Kumar.