INSIDE SCOOP: JD(U) vice president Prashant Kishor faces flak within party over 'should have sought fresh mandate' remark on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

Days after his twin remarks wherein he projected himself as the kingmaker in political discourse and then statements made against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, JD(U) national vice president Prashant Kishor has been facing flak of his party leaders, sources have told Republic TV. 

Poll strategist Prashant Kishor had on March 5 said that when he can help in making Prime Minister and Chief Minister, he can also help Bihar's youth become MP, MLA and sarpanch, while addressing a gathering of youth at an event in Muzaffarpur. Furthermore, during an interview to a news portal on Thursday, he stated that he did not concur with party chief Nitish Kumar's method of realigning with the BJP and the exit from the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), which should have ideally been followed by a fresh mandate.

Seemingly, his remarks have not gone down well with the JD(U) party leaders. Speaking in the matter, JD(U) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar lashed out at Prashant Kishor saying that he is trying to become a freelancer.

"Prashant Kishor is trying to become a freelancer in politics, but JD(U) is known for politic with difference. If there is pollution in the thought process of any member then JD(U) knows how to handle it. His (Prashant Kishor) entry in politics took shape after BJP JD(U) alliance. He is at an adolescent stage in politics alliance. He should not become a freelancer. He is living in a fool's paradise. He should not consider himself as the kingmaker. Voters are real kingmaker. Keep on tweeting, people see work and not tweet. If tweet is the basis of political agenda than voters should not vote only," he said.

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Prashant Kishor On Contesting Elections, Priyanka Gandhi's Impact, Regional Front Talks, And Prediction For 2019 Polls

Further, BJP leader Nikhil Anand termed Prashant Kishor's remarks against Nitish Kumar a sham, saying "JD(U) and BJP's political alliance is quite old and no political advertising manager can dominate that". 

Reacting to Kishor's remarks, RJD MLA and the party's chief state spokesman Bhai Virendra said, "The JD(U) national vice-president's statement is tantamount to admitting what has been our charge. Nitish had got the mandate as a candidate of the Grand Alliance, which comprised the RJD as well as the Congress, and his act of crossing over to the NDA without seeking a fresh mandate was tantamount to stabbing the Mahagathbandhan in the back."

Prashant Kishor had earlier worked with Nitish Kumar as a poll strategist during the 2015 Bihar Assembly election, wherein the latter was the chief ministerial candidate of the Mahagathbandhan. 

READ: Narendra Modi Will Return As Prime Minister, Nitish Kumar Will Have A Role To Play: JD(U)'s Prashant Kishor