Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Kushwaha Vows to Revive Nitish’s 65% Reservation Decision
Upendra Kushwaha says his party wants to continue Nitish Kumar’s work in Bihar.
One part of that work is a plan to increase reservations to 65 percent.
The plan was based on a caste survey.
A court stay stopped the plan from being put into effect.
Kushwaha says the Rashtriya Lok Morcha should now try to move it forward.
He also says his party wants to carry on Nitish Kumar’s political legacy.
The Janata Dal (United) has brought Nitish Kumar’s son, Nishant Kumar, into discussions about that legacy.
The Bharatiya Janata Party says it is too early to discuss who might succeed Nitish Kumar because he remains active in politics.
Upendra Kushwaha said the Rashtriya Lok Morcha will pursue Bihar’s proposed 65% reservation quota.
The proposal was based on findings from Bihar’s caste survey and was approved under Nitish Kumar’s government.
Kushwaha said a court stay prevented the reservation decision from being implemented.
The Rashtriya Lok Morcha adopted the proposal at its Rajgir conclave held from August 20 to 22.
Kushwaha’s legacy claim has prompted discussion of Nishant Kumar in the Janata Dal (United), while the Bharatiya Janata Party called succession debate premature.
- Who
- Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha, Nitish Kumar, the Janata Dal (United), and the Bharatiya Janata Party are central to the developments.
- What
- Kushwaha pledged to pursue Bihar’s proposed increase of the reservation quota to 65% and claimed responsibility for carrying forward Nitish Kumar’s political legacy.
- When
- Kushwaha made the announcement on a Sunday; the Rashtriya Lok Morcha conclave was held from August 20 to 22.
- Where
- The announcement was made in Patna, Bihar, following the party conclave in Rajgir.
- Why
- Kushwaha said the reservation initiative should be continued because Nitish Kumar’s decision could not be implemented after a court stay, and he linked the effort to his party’s claim to Nitish Kumar’s legacy.
Kushwaha’s Claim
Other Parties’ Positions
Political legacy
Kushwaha’s Claim
Upendra Kushwaha says the Rashtriya Lok Morcha should take responsibility for carrying forward Nitish Kumar’s political legacy.
Other Parties’ Positions
The Janata Dal (United) has highlighted Nishant Kumar, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has not endorsed either succession claim and says the debate is premature.
65% reservation
Kushwaha’s Claim
Kushwaha says the Rashtriya Lok Morcha will work to implement Nitish Kumar’s proposed 65% reservation quota in Bihar.
Other Parties’ Positions
The proposal remains unimplemented because of a court stay; the article does not report a separate public response from the Janata Dal (United) or Bharatiya Janata Party on this pledge.
- Reservation proposal
- Increase Bihar’s reservation quota to 65%.
- Basis
- Findings from Bihar’s caste survey.
- Obstacle
- A court stay prevented implementation.
- Party resolution
- The Rashtriya Lok Morcha endorsed taking forward the proposal at its Rajgir conclave.
- Conclave dates
- August 20–22.
- Succession discussion
- The Janata Dal (United) has brought Nishant Kumar into discussions linked to Nitish Kumar’s political legacy.
- Bharatiya Janata Party position
- The party said discussing Nitish Kumar’s successor is premature while he remains active in politics.