Kishor’s induction leads to Nitish ‘takeover’ fear

Strong discontent has gripped the JD(U) after the sudden induction of electoral strategist Prashant Kishor in the national executive of the party. JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, along with senior leaders, were reportedly not even aware of the move of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar to bring Mr Kishor in the national executive.

“There was a meeting presided over by Mr Yadav and attended by party leaders K.C. Tyagi, R.C.P. Sinha and others on Wednesday in the national capital to fin-alise the details of the meeting of the national executive. They had no clue that the Bihar chief minister will induct his strategist into the national executive without even consulting se-nior leaders,” sources said.

The national executive of the JD(U) to elect a new party president is meeting in the Parliament Annexe in the national capital on Sunday. Mr Nitish Kumar is slated to become president of the party after his “unanimous” election to the post during the meeting, sources added.

Insiders in the JD(U) are of the opinion that Mr Kumar will sideline the existing leadership of the party. “It looks clear that Mr Kishor is calling shots in the party and there are enough indications that he may be the Rajya Sabha nominee of the JD(U) during the biennial elections for the Upper House in June this year. Since the JD(U) can get only two Rajya Sabha nominees elected against five prominent leaders who have retired, there is strong discontent within the party,” sources said.

The Bihar chief minister has already taken command of the party for all practical purposes, and has been engaged in talks with leaders of smaller parties in UP and Jharkhand to create a larger political outfit. With Mr Kishor being the key strategist for the Cong-ress for next year’s UP state polls, Mr Kumar, sources said, is taking fancy to the possibility of joining hands with Mr Rahul Gandhi for a pre-poll alliance.