RLM suspends rebel leader Ram Pukar Sinha for six years over Bihar MLC election contest

PATNA — The Rashtriya Lok Morcha has suspended its state general secretary and chief spokesperson, Ram Pukar Sinha, for six years after he entered the Bihar Legislative Council elections as an independent candidate against the official National Democratic Alliance nominee.

The swift disciplinary measure, announced on Monday, reinforces coalition discipline across the ruling NDA in Bihar ahead of the council polls. Sinha filed his nomination papers on 5 October for the Saran Teachers' constituency, directly challenging Janata Dal (United) candidate Anand Pushkar, who has the full backing of the NDA partnership.

Prashant Pankaj, the RLM state working president and headquarters in-charge, issued the suspension order, stating that Sinha's rebellion breached party protocol and damaged its standing.

"You are contesting the 2026 Bihar Legislative Council Saran Teachers' Constituency election as an independent candidate in opposition to the official National Democratic Alliance candidate," Pankaj wrote in the formal notice. "This constitutes an act of indiscipline and has tarnished the party's image. The party has viewed this matter seriously."

Coalition unity takes precedence

The contest has drawn close attention because three of the RLM's four members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly accompanied Sinha when he filed his papers. The legislators — state unit chief Alok Kumar Singh from Dinara, legislative party leader Madhaw Anand from Madhubani, and Bajpatti legislator Rameshwar Mahto — also skipped an NDA legislature party meeting called by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary at his official residence on 9 October.

The party's fourth legislator is Snehlata Kushwaha, the wife of RLM president and Rajya Sabha member Upendra Kushwaha.

Upendra Kushwaha had issued a public warning on 2 October, reminding party cadres that coalition solidarity remains paramount. He made clear that the RLM is committed to supporting every candidate fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the JD(U), the alliance's two principal partners contesting the seats.

"The Rashtriya Lok Morcha stands firmly in support of all NDA candidates fielded by the BJP and the JD(U)," Kushwaha said, adding that any divergence from this stance would be handled as an act of indiscipline.

The contest in Saran

While Alok Kumar Singh suggested their presence alongside Sinha was intended to maintain the morale of long-standing party workers, Kushwaha dismissed talk of an institutional revolt and reiterated that the alliance's joint strategy will prevail.

The three-way contest in the Saran Teachers' constituency now features the official ruling bloc candidate facing Sinha and sitting MLC Afaq Ahmed of the Jan Suraj Party.

By moving immediately against Sinha, the RLM leadership has signalled that internal dissent will not be permitted to compromise the NDA's electoral cohesion in Bihar. The party leadership has not yet announced formal disciplinary hearings for the three legislators who accompanied Sinha, with senior leaders expected to resolve internal discussions while keeping the focus squarely on delivering the alliance's council campaign.