It is learnt that he is desperate to join the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) or to form a third front in alliance with the likes of Jan Adhikar Morcha (JAP) chief Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav. Some other splinter groups may also join the bandwagon if a Third Front is formed.

But there are many stumbling blocks for Kushwaha in joining the NDA. First, his bête noire and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar will not allow him to join the NDA given the antagonism they nourish against each other. Second, the number of seats Kushwaha has been demanding in the Grand Alliance may not be possible in the NDA because a tug of war is already on among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (U) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) over seats.

In fact, the political stock of Kushwaha has been diluted over the years because of his flip-flops and poor electoral performances in the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections. His shallow perception of political realities of Bihar has cost him dearly and come as a roadblock to his high political ambitions.

Kushwaha stepped into politics in 1985 and became the state general secretary of the Yuva Lok Dal. He joined the Samata Party floated by George Fernandes and Nitish Kumar and became its general secretary. He was elected to the state assembly in 2000 and became the leader of opposition in a swift turn of events with the election of BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi to Lok Sabha.