On Wednesday, Prashant Kishor, known for his role as a poll strategist and now active in politics, took a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is scheduled to embark on a trip to Scotland in an attempt to "attract investment for Bihar".
Addressing the media, Kishor criticized Nitish Kumar's decision to seek investments from a region grappling with its own financial challenges.
"After a gap of 18 years, Nitish Kumar is venturing on a foreign visit to lure investments. His destination is Scotland. However, the identity of prominent investors in Scotland remains unclear. Scotland is renowned for its medical colleges. Typically, individuals seek investments from countries like the US, Europe, the Middle East, or Japan. Scotland itself is grappling with financial turmoil and unemployment," remarked Prashant Kishor.
Kishor also highlighted Scotland's struggle during the global economic downturn in 2008, where it suffered significant setbacks.
He further questioned the outcome of investments resulting from Nitish Kumar's former deputy, Tejashwi Yadav's visit to Japan.
"Some time back, Nitish Kumar's former deputy Tejashwi Yadav visited Japan. What was the outcome of the investment secured by the Bihar government?" he queried.
Providing insight into Nitish Kumar's foreign excursion, Sanjay Kumar Jha, a JD(U) leader and recently elected Rajya Sabha MP, stated, "Bihar is on track to establish India's largest science city over a sprawling 17-acre campus. Chief Minister Nitish will embark on a tour of England to explore similar science cities for inspiration".
In response to Kishor's comments regarding the Chief Minister, the JD(U) characterized him as a 'professional' who has lent his services to various political entities.
Abhishek Jha, a spokesperson for JD(U), accused Kishor of making remarks merely to attract attention and maintain political relevance.
"Prashant Kishor is recognized as a professional. When did he transition into politics? He has advertised for those who funded him. Presently, he is touring Bihar, observing the developmental activities undertaken by Nitish Kumar's administration, yet he refrains from speaking favorably about him. There was a time when Prashant Kishor was a staunch supporter of Nitish Kumar, but now, he avoids criticizing him as it won't garner media attention," stated Jha.
With the long-delayed expansion of the cabinet in Bihar's newly-formed NDA government and the impending Lok Sabha elections, Nitish Kumar's sudden decision to embark on a European tour has raised eyebrows.
Nitish Kumar's upcoming trip to Europe is anticipated to divert his attention away from day-to-day governance matters and discussions crucial to seat-sharing, ticket distribution, and election campaigns.
Significantly, the absence of the JD(U) president during the Prime Minister's recent rally in Bettiah has not gone unnoticed.
