Patna, March 25 Prashant Kishor, the founder of the Jan Suraj Party, claimed on Tuesday that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, by being re-elected as the president of the JD(U) and inducting his son Nishant into the party, has removed himself from the position he had held for "the last 35 years".
Kishor, a former national vice president of the JD(U), made the remark in the Munger district, about 150 km from the state capital, where his views were sought on recent developments in the party.
The 48-year-old said, "Nitish Kumar has always been the supreme leader in the JD(U). His retaining of the post of national president and the induction of his son is proof that he is no different from all those who treat their party as a fiefdom to be bequeathed to their offsprings."
"For the past 35 years, Nitish Kumar has put himself on a pedestal, while criticizing others for nepotism and projecting himself as someone who lived by the ideals of socialism. But he can no longer claim the high ground," added Kishor.
The former poll strategist was also asked about his thoughts on the impending change of guard in the state, with Nitish Kumar set to relinquish the chief minister's post following his election to the Rajya Sabha.
Kishor said, "Who will head the new government is a matter that has to be decided by the NDA, which could not have come to power in the first place, but for the blatant bribery of voters ahead of the polls."
This was a reference to the sops offered by the NDA government in the run-up to the assembly polls held in November last year, most notably the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana, which was rolled out days before the announcement of the election schedule.
Under the scheme, a sum of Rs 10,000 each was transferred into the accounts of over one crore women, and female voters came out to vote in record numbers, helping the BJP-led coalition achieve a landslide victory.
Kishor, who has often accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of seeking votes in Bihar but "caring only for their home state," also remarked, tongue-in-cheek, "whatever the shape of the new government here, we may rest assured that it will be run keeping the interests of Gujarat in mind."
Meanwhile, in the state capital, Nishant Kumar arrived at the JD(U) office to celebrate with party workers his 75-year-old father's re-election as the national president.
The 44-year-old heir apparent promised to involve "grassroots level workers" and suggested that booklets be prepared and distributed across the state, encapsulating the work done by his father during a decades-long chief ministership.