Upendra Kushwaha’s Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) has intensified efforts to strengthen its organisation in Bihar, appointing a state election officer as it prepares for internal polls amid recent electoral gains.
The party’s national Election Officer, Pramod Kumar Suman — who also serves as media adviser to Mr Kushwaha — has directed the immediate appointment of Mr Virendra Dangi as Bihar State Election Officer. Mr Dangi, an active figure in the Dangi community with experience in socio-organisational work, will oversee elections at booth, block, and district levels.
In a notification from the national office, Mr Suman himself was formally appointed National Election Officer to ensure the smooth conduct of the 2026-29 organisational elections. The process, which began in late April, includes panchayat-level polls until 15 May, block-level until 25 May, district-level until 4 June, state president election on 7 June, and national president on 14 June.
The RLM, founded by Mr Kushwaha in February 2023 after he left the Janata Dal (United), holds four seats in the Bihar Legislative Assembly following the 2025 state polls, in which it contested six seats as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Mr Kushwaha, a Rajya Sabha member re-elected with NDA support, remains the party’s national president.
Kushwaha community influence
Mr Kushwaha, born Upendra Kumar Singh in 1960 in Vaishali district, is a prominent leader of the Kushwaha (Koeri) community, which commands a significant vote share in Bihar and is actively courted by major parties. A former Union minister and veteran of Bihar politics — with stints in the Samata Party, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party, and JD(U) — he has long positioned himself as a voice for backward classes, education, and social justice.
Buoyed by its performance in the recent Bihar assembly elections and Mr Kushwaha’s successful Rajya Sabha re-election, the RLM is seeking to deepen its roots in the state through greater internal democracy. The party is a key NDA ally both at the Centre and in Bihar.
The appointments are seen within the party as a step towards organisational consolidation ahead of future electoral battles in a state where caste alliances remain pivotal. Mr Dangi’s role is expected to help extend the party’s reach at the grassroots.
The RLM currently maintains a modest but targeted presence, focusing on areas with strong Kushwaha influence. Political analysts view the ongoing process as an effort to professionalise the organisation while Mr Kushwaha consolidates his position as a respected community leader across Bihar and beyond.
