New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday dismissed claims of ace political strategist Prashant Kishor that he spurned a recent request by him to ‘lead’ the Janata Dal (United). "It's false. Let him speak whatever he wants, we've nothing to do with it. 4-5 yrs back he had told me to merge with Congress. He has gone to BJP & is acting as per it...," said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar according to the news agency ANI.
Kishor, who is on a 3,500-km-long Jan Suraaj 'pada-yatra' covering every nook and corner of the state, made the remarks in a remote part of West Champaran district, reported news agency PTI.
Addressing a gathering at Jamunia village in the area Kishor had said, “When I met Nitish Kumar a few days ago, he asked me to re-join JD(U) and work with him. ‘You are my political heir’, the CM told me asking to withdraw my campaign.”
“I categorically told the CM that I will not work with him even if he (Nitish Kumar) makes me his political heir or….vacates the chair of CM for me. I said no….I have made a promise to the people…it can’t be changed,” Kishor added.
"Nitish Kumar has been able to hold on to his chair and thinks he is very smart ('mukhyamanti banke bahut hoshiyar ban rahe hain')," said the 45-year-old former national vice-president of JD(U), according to the news agency PTI.
"After losing the 2014 (Lok Sabha) polls, he met me in Delhi, begging for help. I assisted him in winning the 2015 assembly polls as the chief ministerial candidate of the 'Mahagathbandhan'. Today, he has the temerity to offer 'gyan' (wisdom) to me," added Kishor.
"I am the son of a doctor, trying to work in my home state after having proven my mettle across the country," the IPAC founder commented.
"You all must have learned through media reports that Nitish Kumar had called me to his residence about 10-15 days back. He asked me to lead his party. I said it is not possible. I cannot go back on the commitment I have made in return for any post," said Kishor.