'Not Anybody's Agent': Expelled From JDU, Ace Strategist Prashant Kishor To Launch 'Baat Bihar Ki' Campaign

Prashant Kishor, the ace poll strategist, finally broke his silence on expulsion from the JD(U) and his equation with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Addressing media in Patna on Tuesday, Kishor opened up about his views of state of affairs in Bihar and his future endeavours. Terming Nitish Kumar as ‘father-like figure,’ Prashant Kishor said that, ‘I have had good relations with Nitish Ji. I have immense respect for him. I will not question his decision.’ In an indirect refence to top leadership in Bihar, Kishor said that, “Hum woh neta chahte hain jo sashakt ho, jo Bihar ke liye apni baat kehne mein kisi ka pichhlaggu na bane (We want a strong, determined leader. Someone who can present Bihar’s story without any fear or favour. Someone who doesn’t become a hanger-on).”

He also pointed towards the ideological differences between him and Nitish Kumar. "Nitish-ji always said he cannot leave the ideals of (Mahatma) Gandhi... But now the party is with those who are soft on (Gandhi's killer Nathuram) Godse... For me, Gandhi-ji and Godse cannot go hand-in-hand," Kishor said. Talking about his future plans, Kishor said that he will launch 'Baat Bihar ki' campaign from February 20, which will work towards making Bihar one of the 10 best states in the country.

Lauding the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, with whom he had partnered for the Delhi Assembly Elections, Kishor: “Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party stands against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).”

The strategist’s political consultancy firm I-PAC was roped in by the Aam Aadmi Party for the 2020 Delhi Assembly Elections. Last year on December 14, Kejriwal had announced that I-PAC had come on board with his party. "Happy to share that Indian-PAC is coming on-board with us. Welcome aboard!" the Delhi chief minister had said in a tweet.

Last month, Kishor was expelled from the JD(U) along with Pavan Verma for over 'anti-party activities'. JDU chief general secretary KC Tyagi said in a statement that Kishor and Varma were "acting against party's decisions as well as its functioning" which amounted to breach of discipline.  The party also accused Kishor of using "insulting words" against the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Kishor and Nitish Kumar have been on loggerheads over the issues of NRC, CAA and NPR. Kishor, who had already worked as election strategist for BJP and Congress, had called Nitish Kumar a "liar" over the Bihar Chief Minister's comments about his induction into the party. Kishor, who joined the party in September 2018 and was elevated to the rank of its national vice-president just weeks later, lashed out at Kumar for saying that he was inducted into the party at the instance of the then BJP chief Amit Shah.