Patna: Already under a cloud for abstaining from the recent Rajya Sabha election to five seats from the state, Congress MLA from Valmiki Nagar Surendra Kushwaha on Sunday met rural works department minister Ashok Choudhary of the JD(U) at the latter’s official residence, triggering speculation about his possible next moves amid the fluid political situation in the state.Incidentally, in March 2018, Choudhary, who was then the state Congress president, had joined the JD(U) along with three other party MLCs, dealing an immediate shock to the state Congress.Kushwaha told reporters, “I called on Choudhary in connection with pursuing the developmental works in my assembly constituency. In fact, when I visited the minister, my car carried the flag of Congress to which I belong,” Kushwaha said.Calling CM Nitish Kumar a “good man”, he added, “He, being the CM for all the people of the state, I would not mind meeting him in connection with the works in my constituency to fulfill the promises I made. I know nothing about what is happening in the (Bihar) NDA, nor do I have any interest in knowing about it.”Interestingly, Kushwaha, along with two other Congress MLAs — Manoj Biswas from Forbesganj and Manohar Prasad Singh from Manihari — and Faisal Rehman from the RJD, had abstained from voting in the Rajya Sabha election for the five seats held on March 16. As a result, the grand alliance candidate and sitting RJD Rajya Sabha member Amarendra Dhari Singh lost the fifth seat, while the remaining four seats went to the NDA, including Nitish of the JD(U) and BJP national president Nitin Nabin.Following the setback, the state Congress served show-cause notices two days later to its three MLAs, seeking explanations for their conduct within two days.“Till now, they have not submitted their replies. If the replies submitted by them are found to be unsatisfactory, then the party’s disciplinary committee will take action against them,” state Congress spokesman Rajesh Rathorre said.“The party has no issue with any of its MLAs calling on any minister in connection with their work in the constituency. However, the three MLAs have been served show-cause notices, to which none has given any reply. Therefore, Surendra Kushwaha’s meeting with the minister causes suspicion,” he added.
