Bihar Budget Session: JDU MLA Questions CPI(ML)–RJD Alliance During Heated Assembly Exchange

Patna: A sharp exchange broke out in the Bihar Assembly on Tuesday when JDU विधायक Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha questioned the CPI(ML)’s alliance with the RJD while participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor’s address.

Referring to the absence of Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, Kushwaha said the public wanted to know his stand on development issues and asked whether he would remain absent from the House for 100 days. He urged opposition parties to support development measures outlined in the Governor’s speech.

Highlighting government initiatives, the JDU MLA said the Nitish Kumar government plans to open a degree college in every block. Turning toward opposition benches, he asked whether their children would not benefit if colleges were opened in their constituencies, adding that improved electricity access was helping students pursue better education.

Verbal Clash Over Political History

As opposition members repeatedly interrupted his speech, Kushwaha criticised the functioning of “charwaha schools” started during the RJD era, claiming they had failed to deliver results. RJD MLA Alok Kumar Mehta responded by accusing Kushwaha — who first entered the Assembly as a CPI(ML) member — of abandoning his earlier ideological positions.

In a counterattack, Kushwaha questioned how CPI(ML), which had once strongly criticised the RJD over past incidents of violence and massacres, could now align politically with the party. He said those who had earlier raised the loudest protests in the Assembly were now sharing political space with the same leadership.

Another RJD MLA, Rahul Sharma, also interrupted, prompting Kushwaha to refer to past law-and-order conditions in districts such as Jehanabad, Arwal, Gaya, Aurangabad and Bhojpur, and claimed that the situation had since improved.

Political Background

Kushwaha was first elected in 1990 from Jagdishpur as a candidate of the far-left Indian People’s Front, now associated with CPI(ML). In 1991, he joined the RJD after a split in the IPF legislative group. Over the years, he has been associated with both RJD and JDU. He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Arrah on an RJD ticket but lost. He currently represents Jagdishpur as a JDU MLA.