The Congress party has formed an alliance in Uttar Pradesh with the Jan Adhikar Manch(JAM) Party headed by Babu Singh Kushwaha, Times Now has reported. It’s the same Kushwaha who was allegedly involved in the National Rural Health Mission Scam. As per Times Now, 5 seats have been granted to the party.
https://twitter.com/TimesNow/status/1122013559985020928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Interestingly enough, Rahul Gandhi had himself spoken out against Kushwaha in 2012 when the BJP had attempted to induct him in the party after Mayawati forced him to resign. The Congress President had claimed that Kushwaha had approached the Congress as well but was refused.
“The Youth Congress exposed him (Kushwaha) and his corrupt practices through an RTI (application). He approached Congress and pleaded to take him in the party and save him. But, we refused and said, we would not save you. You will be sent to jail,” he had said.
The CBI had registered five cases on January 2, 2012, against certain government and private sector officials, including one against Kushwaha alleging a loss of about Rs 28 crore in implementing the centrally-sponsored scheme meant for 72 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Kushwaha was later arrested by the CBI as well.
It is notable here that Kushwaha had joined the BJP briefly after being sacked by Mayawati. But he was arrested and jailed along with BSP MLC Ram Prasad Jayaswal soon afterward. BJP had alleged at that time that Mayawati is the person behind the corruption and NHRM scam. Kushwaha’s induction in the BJP had caused serious tiff inside the party as many senior leaders were against it. Finally, the party had severed ties with him.
In May, last year, a special court of the CBI had issued non-bailable warrants against Kushwaha, merely a year after he was granted bail in the matter by the Allahabad High Court. Kushwaha has spent four years in jail.
In the 2017 UP assembly elections, Kushwaha’s Jan Adhikar Manch had contested in 150 seats but had failed to win any of them. His wife and brother are members of the Samajwadi Party.
Congress’ stitching an alliance with Kushwaha before the general elections when the party had itself criticised his inclusion with political opponents, is going to cause some stirs.