Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Monday again invited RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha to join the Grand Alliance despite the Union minister's refusal a day ago.

Tejashwi called Kushwaha a bigger leader than chief minister Nitish Kumar and said it was the right time for him to switch sides.

A perceived rift in the NDA gained momentum after Kushwaha expressed his willingness to decide on seat-sharing for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. A few days later, on June 7, RLSP national working president Nagmani issued a statement saying Kushwaha should be projected as the NDA's chief minister in Bihar. The same day, Kushwaha skipped the NDA feast attended by chief minister Nitish Kumar, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, and a few Union ministers including LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan.

Tejashwi had given Kushwaha an open invitation on Sunday but Kushwaha declined it saying the RJD's vote bank was dipping. He also underlined that he would not quit the NDA under any circumstances.

Asked about Kushwaha's refusal to join the Grand Alliance, Tejashwi said: "I've been saying from day one that it is up to him to join the Grand Alliance because he is not getting due respect. Kushwaha ji's vote bank is bigger than Nitishji's and he will continue to be neglected in the NDA. He does not fit in the NDA as they are anti-Constitution."

Praising Narendra Modi, Kushwaha said it was necessary in the interest of the nation to retain him as Prime Minister and that he would once again be Prime Minister after elections next year.

The RJD is trying hard to get Kushwaha in its fold as the community is the biggest OBC chunk after the Yadavs and the RJD, HAMS, Congress and RLSP combination could become a major game-changer in Bihar politics. As things stand now, the chances of Kushwaha switching sides appear unlikely as he has denied it every time it is raised. But former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi seemed optimistic, saying sooner or later Kushwaha would come to the RJD.