New Delhi: Ace political strategist Prashant Kishor met with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday evening in Patna, sources told ABP News adding that the meeting went around for around two hours. The development came to spotlight as recently Kumar and Kishor indulged in a spat making sharp remarks against each other. The move is also being seen from the point of view of 2024 Lok Sabha election where it is being speculated that Nitish Kumar may lead a united Opposition as the candidate for the post of Prime Minister.
Kishor took several swipes at the Janata Dal (United) chief mocking the latter's attempt to unite the Opposition for the 2024 Lok Sabha election agaisnt the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Nitish Kumar-Prashant Kishor Spat
The JD(U) chief while responding to a question about Kishor — who was ousted from JD(U) — during a press conference in the national capital had said that his statements have no meaning and asked if he knows what has been done in the state since 2005.
"Vo uska dhandha hai (This is his business)," Kumar told reporters. "Let him do what he wants to do in Bihar. His statements have no meaning. Does he know ABC of what has been done in the state since 2005?
Hitting back at Kumar, the poll strategist had tweeted a photo of Bihar CM with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was later deleted, in an apparent jibe at the snapping of ties between JD(U) and BJP's ruling alliance in Bihar. Kumar broke ties with BJP and formed government by joining hands with Mahagathbandhan — an alliance between the JD(U), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Kishor also said that Kumar’s efforts to unite the Opposition will go in vain because there is a need for a ‘credible face’ and a ‘mass movement’ for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Nitish Kumar's Attempt For A United Opposition
The Bihar CM visited the national capital earlier this month and met the leaders of the Opposition parties. He met with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh and chief Akhilesh Yadav, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI General Secretary D. Raja, Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Kumaraswamy.
His efforts to forge unity is being seen as his ambition for the post of Prime Minister in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, although the JD(U) chief has said that he is not a "claimant" or "deisrous" for the post.