‘Big Announcement’ Likely as Kushwaha’s Party Meets in Patna Today; Nitish's ‘Insult’ May Also Come Up

New Delhi/Patna: The Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) will hold its state executive meeting in Patna on Saturday where the main talking point would be the "impasse" over the seat-sharing arrangement among the ruling NDA constituents in Bihar.

According to RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "insult" at him will also be discussed at the meeting.

In a sign that the BJP was growing increasingly wary of the Union minister as he escalates his attack on Nitish Kumar, there was no word from the saffron party on the appointment Kushwaha had sought with BJP chief Amit Shah.

Speaking to reporters in Delhi before his return to Patna, Kushwaha claimed that his party wanted its share of seats in the Lok Sabha elections in 2019 to be commensurate with its "increased" strength compared to the 2014 polls when it had contested on three seats.

The BJP has indicated that it is unlikely to spare more than two seats for him.

Kushwaha also repeated his allegation that Kumar had called him 'neech' (lowly).

Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) president Kumar had said at an event that the level of discourse "should not be lowered (itna neeche mat giraiye)".

He had responded to a journalist's query about Kushwaha's claim that Kumar did not want to continue as CM after the 2020 assembly polls.

The RLSP leader alleged that Kumar referred to him as 'neech', a charge vehemently denied by the JD(U) which also released videos of the event. He also claimed that Kumar wants to destroy his party.

"The impasse over the seat-sharing arrangement continues," Kushwaha said, adding it will also be discussed in the meeting.

he RLSP chief's aggressive comments against Kumar and his attack on Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi for defending of the CM has signalled his growing isolation in the coalition.

Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan-led Lok Janshakti Party is another National Democratic Alliance constituent besides the BJP, JD(U) and RLSP.

Speculation is rife that Kushwaha could make a "big announcement" with regard to his continuance in the BJP-led NDA.

Mercurial RLSP leader Nagamani echoed the prevailing mood on the eve of the meeting with a cryptic remark, "There will be a big explosion in a day or two".

However, a senior party indicated that the RLSP will not pull the plug on NDA and wait for the BJP's response.