Upendra Kushwaha's RLM Faces Internal Revolt: 3 MLAs Defy Party Chief in Bihar MLC Polls

Internal Rift in Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM)

The Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM), led by उपेन्द्र कुशवाहा, is currently grappling with a significant internal rebellion during the Bihar Legislative Council (MLC) elections in October 2026. The conflict has centered on the Saran Teacher constituency, where party lines have been blurred by a clash between the top leadership and the party's legislative wing.

While Upendra Kushwaha officially declared the RLM's support for the NDA-backed JDU candidate, Pushkar Anand, three of the party's four MLAs have openly defied this directive. These MLAs—Alok Singh (State President), Madhav Anand, and Rameshwar Kumar Mahto—have instead thrown their weight behind Rampukar Sinha, a senior RLM leader who filed his nomination as an independent candidate for the same seat [2].

Causes of the Rebellion: Worker Neglect and Respect

The rebellion is not merely about a single seat but reflects deeper systemic dissatisfaction within the party. MLA Madhav Anand has publicly stated that the top leadership has neglected the party's grassroots workers. According to Anand, workers feel "upेक्षित" (neglected) and believe they are not receiving the respect they deserve [1].

The rebel MLAs claim to have spent nine months gathering feedback from various districts, concluding that the party needs internal strengthening to remain viable. Madhav Anand emphasized that a party exists only as long as its workers remain, suggesting that the current leadership's decisions have alienated the base [3].

The NDA Paradox and Kushwaha's Reaction

A striking aspect of this revolt is that the rebel MLAs are not attempting to leave the NDA alliance. Madhav Anand clarified that their support for the government led by Samrat Chaudhary remains unconditional. The rebels argue that by supporting Rampukar Sinha, they are actually trying to save the RLM and make it stronger, which in turn would benefit the BJP-led alliance in the long run, specifically looking toward 2029 [2].

Upendra Kushwaha has largely dismissed these developments as "speculation," maintaining that his MLAs support the NDA candidate. However, his reaction to the media has sparked further attention. When questioned by a journalist in Patna about the party split, Kushwaha responded sharply, stating, "भीड़ बहुत ज्यादा है पत्रकार जी, आपका माथा भी टूट जाएगा" (The crowd is too large, journalist, your head will also break) [3].

RLM Internal Split Summary (October 2026)

Faction	Key Figures	Candidate Supported	Stated Goal
Party Leadership	Upendra Kushwaha	Pushkar Anand (JDU/NDA)	Maintain NDA discipline
Rebel MLAs	Alok Singh, Madhav Anand, Rameshwar Mahto	Rampukar Sinha (Independent)	Restore worker respect & party strength