Prashant Kishor Mocks JD(U) Renaming Bid, Says Party Run by ‘Amit Shah Appointees’

Patna: Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor has derided the JD(U) over its leadership considering renaming the party 'JD(U)-Nitish', saying it "does not matter" as the outfit was run by "appointees of Union Home Minister Amit Shah" to serve the interests of its ally, the BJP.

The Bankipur MLA, who is a former JD(U) national vice president, made the remark late on Friday night, when reporters sought his response to the Nitish Kumar-led party's renaming bid.

"It does not matter what new name the JD(U) is given. The fact is, today the JD(U) is not being run by Nitish Kumar. The party is being controlled by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. A couple of his appointees are there whose job is to ensure that the party serves the BJP's interests," he said.

Kishor did not drop any hints as to whom he was calling "appointees" of Shah. His remarks assume significance against the backdrop of disgruntled JD(U) leaders pointing fingers at national working president Sanjay Kumar Jha and Rajiv Ranjan Singh "Lalan".

Notably, Kishor, who had started off as a poll strategist, made his foray into active politics in 2018 when he was inducted into the JD(U) by Nitish Kumar and elevated to the top party post within weeks of joining.

He fell out with the JD(U) supremo, leading to his expulsion in 2020, following differences over party MPs supporting the NDA government at the Centre on the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Kishor had accused Kumar of "lying" when the latter had made light of his strident stance against CAA, claiming that he had been inducted into the BJP "upon Shah's recommendation".

Asked to comment on the floods in Bihar, he said, "The floods are yet another example of the indifference of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and his government towards Bihar."

"During assembly elections last year, Shah had promised that if the BJP was voted back to power, the calamity would be a thing of the past. But, so far, we have not even come across a statement from them over the hardships being endured by the people of Bihar," Kishor said.

"Contrast this with a hypothetical situation in which the floods had wrought havoc in Gujarat. The entire Union government machinery would have been pressed into service. The contract for the upcoming power plant in Pirpainti near here has been awarded to Adani. This is yet another example of the interests of Gujarat taking precedence over the interests of Bihar," he alleged.

The Jan Suraaj Party founder said, "The situation will change only when the people of this state start worrying about the future of their own children and refuse to get carried away by PM Modi's aura".

He also claimed that "public mood has begun to change, thanks to the relentless campaign of Jan Suraaj to improve education in the state, which is a must to pull Bihar out of chronic backwardness".

"The NDA would have been routed last year but for the Rs 10,000 doles given to voters ahead of elections. But now the people are not being swayed even by the BJP's rhetoric of controlling law and order through encounter raj," Kishor added.