Upendra Kushwaha: ‘Nitish always said migration from Bihar has stopped… Covid, lockdown exposed real situation’

Nitish Kumar may have completed 15 years with this side or that side, but the people of Bihar have understood his reality. So many things have come out in the open. His performance… he has always said that migration from Bihar has stopped. But the lockdown and the Coronavirus outbreak has exposed the real situation of people when it comes to employment in Bihar. The situation is the same in the case of education. He came to power promising to usher in change, especially with regard to padhai (education), dawai (medicine) and kamai (livelihood). He had asked for five years but the people of Bihar gave him 15 years. He could not do anything on these fronts. Law and order was his other focus area. He had promised to ensure rule of law. But today murder, kidnapping, loot and rape have significantly increased. His government has been a failure on all fronts. His exit is certain.

Editorial| The Bihar arena

But he will say that his 15 years is better than the previous 15 years of Lalu rule

The people did not give him 15 years to perform better than the previous 15 years. He had not said that even. We were colleagues then. He used to say everywhere that he will make Bihar a developed state. Now he will have to answer what has he done to make Bihar a developed state and what is the situation now. How many people have been given jobs and what has he done to create more employment opportunities? Has a single new industry or factory been set up? Nothing. In fact, industries were closed down. Jute mills and sugar mills were shut. There is no point in comparing his 15 years with the previous 15 years. He will surely try to mislead the people. But people will not believe him.

When he compares his 15 years with Lalu Yadav’s 15 years… the sub-text is about the so-called Yadav hegemony during the Lalu rule against which there was backlash from other castes. So isn’t that a baggage for you since RJD is the main player in the mahagathbandhan?

The mahagathbandhan has not taken a final decision on who will be the next CM. I am not saying it will not be Tejashwi Yadav. But till today, mahagathbandhan has not taken a decision. Secondly, whosoever it is… he will be better than Nitish Kumar and the people of Bihar know that.

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But then why this reluctance in announcing your CM face?

There is no reluctance. It is just about the process. The leaders of all the parties will sit and decide. It will happen at the right time and before the elections.

You are a veteran in politics. You have done social justice politics and seen the social justice politics of both Lalu and Nitish. He constantly harps about the Lalu rule. The RJD’s stand that only a person from Lalu’s family will become the CM…will that be a handicap?

This is not the issue before Bihar. The issue before Bihar is about the future of the young generation. How will our children be educated? What will happen to the poor who migrate because of lack of health facilities in the state? These are the issues. The issue (that you are asking) will not matter much.

There are said to be differences in the Grand Alliance

There are no differences. When there are five people in a family, it is but natural that on some issues… chalta hai. But if there are any differences… we will resolve them timely. There are no issues which we cannot resolve and on which we need to spend much energy.

Is there a place for Ram Vilas Paswan’s LJP in the mahagathbandhan?

I think Paswanji is only trying to increase the share of his party’s seats in the alliance where he is. His statements and efforts should not be read differently.

There is a suggestion that the election should be postponed because of the Corona situation?

No doubt, the people are facing problems because of the Corona situation. But if you look at it, the government of India took some wrong steps in the initial stages which resulted in the present situation. Had they adopted a better strategy initially… they could have averted the hardships faced by lakhs of people who had to walk home…thousands of kilometres… faced starvation… and the number of cases have increased. And we are faced with this situation now. But to not hold an election because of this situation will also not be appropriate. The Election Commission will have to find a way out to better the election process, ensure participation of the people and at the same time not expose them to coronavirus.

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Have you decided on seat sharing in the alliance?

Talks are on. Where has it reached…it is internal…cannot reveal now. It is not appropriate.

Your opponents will say that the maha gathbandhan is a hotch-potch alliance and cannot offer a stable government. How will you counter that?

Whatever Nitish Kumar may say…15 years is not a short period. Why should anyone trust Nitish now? He could have done whatever he wanted — be it tackling the issue of unemployment or lack of health infrastructure. I personally know that Nitish has that ability. If he wanted, he could have done all these. But he focused all his energies on saving his chair. Now the people reject him and the only alternative before them is the mahagathbandhan. The people will surely give the alliance an opportunity. We will offer a better government.

Will there be a common manifesto?

There is a proposal for a common minimum programme. We are considering it. There is consensus on it.

Then why is there no consensus on a common face?

It is not that there is not… I have only said that no decision has been taken…