JD(U) vice-president Prashant Kishor takes dig at RCP

PATNA: All does not seem well in JD(U) as its national vice-president and poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Friday took a jibe at party general secretary RCP Singh.


“NDA is fighting the poll battle with all strength in Bihar under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and Nitish ji. JD(U) has put the responsibility of election campaigning and management on the strong shoulders of senior and experienced leader RCP Singh. My role in the initial phase of my political career is to learn and cooperate,” Kishor tweeted.

Kishor’s tweet sounds ironical as he had played an important role in electioneering of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in 2014 Lok Sabha elections and of Grand Alliance of JD(U), RJD and Congress in 2015 assembly elections in Bihar. However, neither he nor his outfit IPAC is in action in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Bihar.

Incidentally, when Kishor was inducted in JD(U) in September last year and later elevated to the post of its national vice-president after a month, the move was seen as to sideline RCP only, who was actively looking after the organizational structure of the party till then.

JD(U) president and CM Nitish Kumar had even told party workers during his joining ceremony on September 16 last that he would the “future” of the party. “Kishor had become the effective number-2 in the party for a short span and Nitish ji was even looking for a political successor in him. But situation has changed after his controversial statements,” said a senior JD(U) functionary.

Talking to a web portal earlier this month, Kishor said Nitish should have sought fresh mandate after leaving RJD-Congress alliance and before forming new government with BJP. That statement had invited sharp criticism in JD(U). His recent statement at Muzaffarpur also drew flak that if he could help people in becoming PM and CM, then he can definitely support newcomers in JD(U) to become district presidents or MLAs.

JD(U) insiders said such “immature” statements in politics provided a tool to Kishor’s opponent in the party against him. “Those hailing from conventional politics in JD(U) never accepted Kishor. And, he also gave them opportunity by making controversial statements, campaigning for Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh and holding meetings with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. As a consequence of all such events, Kishor has been replaced at number-2 position in the party by RCP,” a senior JD(U) functionary said, wishing anonymity.