Prashant Kishor, Pavan Varma Expelled From JDU After Revolt Over Nitish Kumar's Stand On CAA

Prashant Kishor and Pavan Varma were expelled from JDU for anti-party activitiesPrashant Kishor had publicly slammed JDU boss Nitish Kumar for his stand on CAA, NRCBoth Kishor and Varma have been critical of the party president

Election strategist Prashant Kishor (L) and former diplomat Pavan K Varma (R) who were expelled by Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United chief Nitish Kumar from the party. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Janata Dal United (JDU) on Wednesday expelled its Vice President Prashant Kishor and senior leader Pavan Varma after being at logger heads with party boss and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his stand against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). According to reports, both Kishor and Varma have been removed from JDU for indulging in 'anti party activities'. A JDU statement, issued by party's chief general secretary K C Tyagi, said that these two 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. "It is imperative that Kishor be removed from the party, so that he doesn't fall any lower," an official statement by JDU said. Reacting to the development, Kishor took to Twitter and sarcastically thanked JDU chief and wished him luck in retaining the CM chair.

Thank you @NitishKumar. My best wishes to you to retain the chair of Chief Minister of Bihar. God bless you.????????

— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) January 29, 2020

The move came a day after Prashant Kishor publicly hit out at his party boss Nitish Kumar, calling his recent stand on multiple issues a "fall" for him. Taking to Twitter, he posted: "Nitish Kumar 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!" The poll strategist also teared into Kumar who claimed that the former was inducted into the party at the direction of Union Minister Amit Shah. Dismissing the allegations as "fake", Kishor had criticised Shah too. WATCH REPORT | Prashant Kishor, Pavan Varma Expelled From JDU For Anti-Party Activities Both Kishor and Varma have been critical of the party president and Bihar CM over his support to CAA and the National Population Register (NPR). In his first direct attack on the JD(U) national president, 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 Union Home Minister and the then BJP chief Amit Shah.

.@NitishKumar 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? — Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) January 28, 2020

Kishor has been rankling the BJP for quite some time, questioning his own party's decision to support the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in Parliament and insisting that the JD(U) contest a significantly higher number of seats than the saffron party in the assembly polls in Bihar due later this year. Even Varma went on to ask how did Nitish Kumar take a decision to extend the alliance with the BJP when his personal views are different. Varma had tweeted a letter to Nitish Kumar saying he was "deeply perplexed" by the alliance with the BJP for the February Delhi election. Kishor had joined the Janata Dal-United in September 2018. He was also made the Vice President of the party. While Varma is a former Rajya Sabha member of the JDU.