Rashtriya Lok Morcha

The Rashtriya Lok Morcha (abbr. RLM), originally established as Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal is an Indian political party formally announced by Upendra Kushwaha on 20 February 2023, in Bihar after resignation from Janata Dal (United). The party's ideology is based on the ideals of Karpoori Thakur. The foundation of the party was preceded by a two day conference organised by Upendra Kushwaha in Patna, in which he invoked the participation of all the members of Mahatama Phule Samata Parishad, a socio-political organisation and his trusted aides in Janata Dal (United). In the backdrop of this conference the foundation of the party was announced.

History

In 2020 Bihar Legislative Assembly election, Upendra Kushwaha, then the president of Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), formed a third front called Grand Democratic Secular Front, which included parties with minor presence in Bihar. The front included Bahujan Samaj Party and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen. The coalition performed poorly in Bihar Assembly elections of 2020, winning only 6 seats. The Rashtriya Lok Samata Party failed to win any seat, but was responsible for defeat of Janata Dal (United) (JDU) in over dozens of constituencies. Due to shift of Kushwaha voters to RLSP, JDU became a junior partner in National Democratic Alliance, with its seats significantly reduced in Bihar Legislative Assembly in comparison to its partner Bhartiya Janata Party.

After the results were out, JDU reorganised itself by analysing the causes of its defeat and Upendra Kushwaha was invited to join the party once again. Kushwaha merged his Rashtriya Lok Samata Party into Janata Dal (United) and was made the President of Parliamentary Board of JDU. The JDU also nominated him to Bihar Legislative Council. Few months later, the rumours of Nitish Kumar selecting Tejashwi Yadav as his successor caused uneasiness for many members of JDU. Kushwaha now emerged as the critic of Tejashwi Yadav. He demanded his share in JDU and refused to accept the leadership of Yadav. Amidst verbal attacks by the spokespersons and leaders of JDU, he organised a two day conference in Patna, in which all the members of his defunct Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, who were in JDU were invited. The members of another organisation led by him called Mahatma Phule Samata Parishad were also invited in this conference. On 20 February 2023, in this two day conference, the Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal(Later renamed as Rashtriya Lok Morcha) was founded.

Kushwaha launched his Virasat Bachao Yatra, a statewide tour in Bihar after the foundation of Rashtriya Lok Morcha. The party was said to be formed in a bid to prohibit the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav from becoming the new face of Mahagathbandhan and the successor of Nitish Kumar as the Chief Minister of Bihar. The RLM also organised Samrat Ashok Jayanti (celebration of anniversary of Ashoka in Samrat Ashok International Convention Centre (Bapu Sabhagaar), Patna on 2 March 2023 in a bid to attract the Kushwaha (Koeri) caste to the party. Few days after it, the party announced the list of its office bearers. The list included some of the old allies of Upendra Kushwaha like Fazal Imam Mallick and Madhav Anand, who were associated with him from the time of Rashtriya Lok Samata Party. Some new entrants were also given significant position; Jitendra Nath, who is reported to have significant hold on Dhanuk and Kurmi caste in Magadh region was made National Vice President while former Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly from Ziradei Assembly constituency, Ramesh Singh Kushwaha was appointed as the Bihar state president of the party. Party's name changed on 18th February 2024 to Rashtriya Lok Morcha as Election Commission of India refused to assign it the name of Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal.

Organisation

• Jitendra Nath, Vice President (Organization)
• Madhav Anand, Principal General Secretary
• Fazal Imam Mallick, General Secretary cum Spokesperson
• Narendra Kumar, National General Secretary cum spokesperson

Important members

• Madan Chowdhary, Vice President, and caretaker State president, bihar (Organization)
• Subhash Chandravanshi, General Secretary
• Brajendra Kumar Pappu, General Secretary cum spokesperson
• Rahul Kumar, General Secretary cum Spokesperson
• Rampukar Sinha, General Secretary cum Spokesperson
• Himanshu Patel, State President, Youth Cell
• Ashok Ram, State President, Scheduled Caste Cell
• Sonu Verma,State General Secretary [It Cell]
• Roshan Raja, State President (IT Cell)

Electoral Performance

Lok Sabha (General) election results

References