Estranged Janata Dal (United) leader and its Parliamentary Board chairperson, Upendra Kushwaha, on Monday announced the end of his ties with the party and floated a new party - Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal.

Addressing a press conference, he said, "We've decided to form a new party - Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal. This has been decided unanimously. I've been made its national president. The party will take forward the legacy of Karpoori Thakur. We'll work towards rejecting the agreement made with RJD." 

He said for the past two days meetings and discussions took place in Patna and leaders unanimously came to a conclusion. Kushwaha also announced that he is resigning as MLC in the Legislative Council.

According to an India Today report, Kushwaha has been at loggerheads with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He had convened a two-day open session on February 19, 20, which was attended by several JDU workers in Patna. In the meeting, he sought suggestions from the party workers for the future political strategy moving forward.

Upendra Kushwaha said, "A new political inning begins today. Barring a few, everyone in JD(U) was expressing concern... A meeting was held with elected colleagues and a decision was taken...Nitish Kumar did good in the beginning. The path on which he has started walking is bad for him and Bihar."

He further said, "The CM is not acting of his own volition, he now acts as per suggestions of people around him. He's unable to act on his own today because he never made an effort to make a successor...Had Nitish Kumar chosen a successor, he needn't have looked at neighbours for one."

Image courtesy: PTI