JD(U) expels Prashant Kishor, Pavan Varma for 'anti-party activities'

Top Janata Dal (United) leaders Prashant Kishor and Pavan Varma were on Wednesday (January 29) expelled from the party for indulging in “anti-party activities”. Both leaders have been critical of the party president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his support to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Population Register.

A JD (U) statement, issued by party’s chief general secretary KC Tyagi, said 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.

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

Thank you Nitish Kumar ji for freeing me from my increasingly untenable position of defending you and your policies. I wish you well in your ambition of being CM of Bihar at any cost.

— Pavan K. Varma (@PavanK_Varma) January 29, 2020

After his expulsion, Kishor said in a tweet, “Thank you @NitishKumar. My best wishes to you to retain the chair of Chief Minister of Bihar. God bless you.” Kishor was the vice president of the party. Varma too has replied with a “thank you”, saying, “Thank you Nitish Kumar ji for freeing me from my increasingly untenable position of defending you and your policies. I wish you well in your ambition of being CM of Bihar at any cost.”

Also read | JD(U) split wide open: Kishor-Nitish spat draws in Amit Shah reference

A day earlier, Kishor had intensified the heat on Kumar after the chief minister claimed the poll strategist was inducted in the party at the instance of Union Home Minister 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

“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! And if you are telling the truth who would believe that you still have courage not to listen to someone recommended by Amit Shah,” Kishor had said.

Varma, who was the national general secretary of JD(U), had earlier shot off a letter to Kumar calling on him to provide “ideological clarity”, after the party decided to ally with the BJP in the forthcoming Delhi assembly polls.

Also read | JD(U) leader baffled over party’s call to ally with BJP for Delhi polls

Emphasising that he is “deeply perplexed” over the tie up, that too at a time when there is so much outpouring of anger over the CAA-NPR-NRC row, the senior leader has said, “On more than one occasion, you have expressed your grave apprehensions about the BJP-RSS combine.”

(More details awaited)

Also read | After countless U-turns, Nitish finds himself alone in his party