Nitish Kumar-Prashant Kishor spat shows JD(U)-BJP alliance still intact

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, January 29

The public spat between Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD (U) vice president Prashant Kishor is an indication that the BJP’s Bihar ally is in no mood of walking away from the NDA alliance anytime soon. The party is also in complete consonence with the BJP on contentious CAA- NPR issue.  

Earlier speculation was rife that Kumar might break up the alliance with the BJP ahead of Bihar elections. The spat, however, highlighted the internal tussle within the JD (U). Importantly, Kishor is minding the poll strategy of the AAP in the upcoming Delhi elections. The AAP is the BJP’s chief rival in the high stake Delhi elections, which it is contesting with its Bihar allies, JD (U) and LJP, for the first time.

On Tuesday, soon after Kumar said Kishor was inducted into the JD (U) on the advice of Home Minister Amit Shah, the party vice president shot back, saying “what a fall for you to lie about how and why you made me join JD (U)”.

“Amit Shah ji told me to take him in the party. But he (Kishor) works for different kinds of people as a strategist. He is now working for AAP. He might have ambitions to go places. He is free to go,” Kumar said.

Soon after this, Kishor tweeted: “What a fall for you to lie about how and why you made me join JDU!! Poor attempt on your part to try and make my colour same as yours! And if you are telling the truth who would believe that you still have courage not to listen to someone recommended by @AmitShah? ”

Kumar not just reminded Kishor of Shah’s recommendation, but also said: “I don’t have any problem if he wants to leave the party. It’s okay if he stays, and if he doesn’t, it’s fine. But if he wants to stay, then he will have to follow the basic structure of the party.”

He also added, “Someone (apparently referring to another party leader Pavan Varma) wrote a letter and I responded to it. Someone (Kishor) is tweeting, let him tweet. What can I do about it? People can stay in the party till the time they want. They are free to go whenever they feel like.”

Standing by Kumar, JD (U) leader Ajay Alok said Kishor was a 'dalal' and ‘coronavirus’. Other leaders also said there was no place in the party for businessmen like Kishor.

In the past as well Kumar had said that the JD (U) admitted Kishor on the “advice of Amit Shah”.

He had even accused him of not losing any opportunity to attack the Centre’s policies, including CAA, NPR and NRC.