Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) has suspended its state general secretary and chief spokesperson Ram Pukar Sinha for six years for contesting the Bihar Legislative Council election from the Saran Teachers’ constituency as an independent candidate against the NDA’s official nominee.
The action, taken on October 12, has brought the party’s internal differences into focus, with questions emerging over whether RLM president Upendra Kushwaha will take action against three party MLAs who were present during Sinha’s nomination.
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In a letter issued by RLM’s working state president and headquarters in-charge, Prashant Pankaj, the party said Sinha had violated organisational discipline by contesting against the NDA’s authorised candidate.
The party said his decision had damaged its image.
Sinha had decided to enter the contest despite the NDA naming Janata Dal (United) leader Anand Pushkar as its candidate for the Saran Teachers’ constituency.
The Jan Suraj Party has also fielded sitting MLC Afaq Ahmed.
THREE RLM MLAS BACK SINHA
The controversy has extended beyond Sinha’s candidature, with three of RLM’s four MLAs seen alongside him during the nomination process.
The legislators are Alok Kumar Singh, the MLA from Dinara and RLM’s Bihar state president; Madhav Anand, the MLA from Madhubani; and Rameshwar Mahto, the MLA from Bajpatti.
Their presence was viewed as a show of support for Sinha, bringing the differences between the party’s leadership and some of its legislators into the open.
Alok Kumar Singh had cited the need to respect old party workers and maintain their morale while explaining the support for Sinha.
However, Kushwaha’s position has been to remain aligned with the NDA and back its authorised candidate.
The three MLAs were also absent from the NDA meeting held at the chief minister’s residence on October 9. The meeting discussed the Legislative Council elections and support for the alliance’s candidates.
Their absence, along with their presence during Sinha’s nomination, has added to questions about the party’s internal unity.
WILL KUSHWAHA ACT AGAINST THE MLAS?
With Sinha suspended for six years, attention has now shifted to the party’s response to the three legislators. No action against them has been announced so far.
The question before Kushwaha is whether the party will seek an explanation from the MLAs or initiate disciplinary proceedings over their apparent support for a candidate contesting against the NDA nominee.
The leadership could also seek to resolve the differences through discussions.
The issue is significant for the RLM, which has four MLAs, three of whom were present during Sinha’s nomination.
While the party has taken action against Sinha for defying the alliance’s decision, its response to the legislators could indicate how it intends to handle dissent within its ranks.
The Saran Teachers’ constituency election now involves NDA nominee Anand Pushkar, independent candidate Ram Pukar Sinha and Jan Suraj candidate Afaq Ahmed.
Alongside the electoral contest, the dispute within the RLM has become a point of focus, with the party’s next move against its three MLAs still unclear.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
