RLM suspends Ram Pukar Sinha, MLC candidate backed by three rebel party MLAs

Upendra Kushwaha led Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) on Monday (October 12, 2026), suspended Ram Pukar Sinha, the MLC candidate of Saran Teachers Constituency backed by three rebel MLAs of the party. Expelled for six years, he was serving as RLM state general secretary cum spokesperson.On October 5, Mr. Sinha filed the nomination as an independent candidate for the upcoming Legislative Council election despite Anand Pushkar contesting the seat as the Janata Dal(United) candidate for the Saran Teachers’ Constituency.Three out of four MLAs of RLM were present during Mr. Sinha’s nomination, and they all supported him instead of the JD (U) candidate. Three RLM MLAs include Alok Kumar Singh (RLM State Unit President), Madhaw Anand (Leader of the Legislative Party ) and MLA Rameshwar Mahto. The fourth RLM MLA, Snehlata Kushwaha, is the wife of RLM chief and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha.Prashant Pankaj, State Working President and Headquarters in-charge of the party, issued the letter addressing Mr. Sinha.“You are contesting the 2026 Bihar Legislative Council Saran Teachers’ Constituency election as an independent candidate in opposition to the official National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate. This constitutes an act of indiscipline and has tarnished the party’s image. The party has viewed this matter seriously. Therefore, in accordance with instructions, you are hereby suspended from the party for a period of six years,”Mr. Pankaj wrote in the letter.On October 2, Mr. Kushwaha had already warned that if any party member went against the party’s decision, action would be taken.“In the areas of Bihar where Legislative Council elections are currently underway, only candidates from two NDA parties—the BJP and the JD(U)—are in the electoral fray. The Rashtriya Lok Morcha stands firmly in support of all NDA candidates fielded by the BJP and the JD(U). Any election-related activity undertaken by a party member contrary to this stance will be considered an act of indiscipline,’Mr. Kushwaha said in a social media post on Facebook. The rift within the RLM was also visible on October 9, 2026, when Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary called a meeting of the NDA Legislature Party at his official residence; however, all three RLM MLAs skipped the meeting.The ruling JD (U) is already facing dissent in the party after Mokama MLA Anant Singh is continuously campaigning against Neeraj Kumar, the JD(U)’s candidate from the Patna Graduate constituency. Published - October 13, 2026 07:55 am IST