Two days after JD (U) leader, Pavan Varma left the party red-faced, Bihar CM and JDU supremo, Nitish Kumar has given a loud and clear message to his party leaders.
Varma had sought clarity on the JD (U)’s move to align with the BJP in Delhi Assembly polls. He claimed that the Bihar Chief Minister has “private apprehensions” about how the ruling party and JD (U) ally, BJP is running the country. Verma was speaking in the context of the CAA and NRC.
Varma, a former Rajya Sabha MP stated in his letter, “I remember your confessing to me in private how the current leadership in the BJP party has humiliated you. You maintained, on more than one occasion, that the BJP is leading India into a ‘dangerous space’.”
Now, the JD (U) chief has said, “If anyone has any issues then the person can discuss it within party or at party meetings, but such kind of public statements are surprising. He can go and join any party he likes, he has my best wishes.”
The JD (U) chief has thus given a stern message to Varma that he is free to join any party he wishes. However, while Nitish Kumar’s remarks came in the context of what Pavan Varma had stated, the repercussions of what the Bihar CM said go beyond Pavan Varma.
To be specific, it is “master” political strategist and JD (U) Vice-President, Prashant Kishor who comes into spotlight.
#WATCH Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on JDU leader Pawan Verma's letter to him on CAA&NRC: If anyone has any issues then the person can discuss it within party or at party meetings, but such kind of public statements are surprising. He can go and join any party he likes, my best wishes. pic.twitter.com/qFXgVSWfKu
— ANI (@ANI) January 23, 2020
When the Citizenship Amendment legislation was tabled before the Parliament last year, it is Prashant Kishor who had initially spoken against the party move. He had tweeted, “Disappointed to see JDU supporting #CAB that discriminates right of citizenship on the basis of religion.
It’s incongruous with the party’s constitution that carries the word secular thrice on the very first page and the leadership that is supposedly guided by Gandhian ideals.”
Disappointed to see JDU supporting #CAB that discriminates right of citizenship on the basis of religion.
It's incongruous with the party's constitution that carries the word secular thrice on the very first page and the leadership that is supposedly guided by Gandhian ideals.
— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) December 9, 2019
In fact, it was only after Kishor’s opposition that other JD (U) leaders, including Pavan Varma, also started speaking up against the Citizenship Amendment law.
The JD (U) had taken a pro-CAA stand in the Parliament. On the question of NRC too, JD (U) leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Ram Chandra Prasad Singh had said that national development is supposed to take place for the citizens of this country, and there was no logic of letting the benefits of development to be shared by non-citizens (illegal immigrants).
However, while the party had taken a pro-CAA stand and an MP had also avoided criticising the NRC on the floor of the House, Kishor echoed sentiments against the CAA and also publicly expressed disappointment with the party’s decision to support the Citizenship Amendment legislation.
While Nitish Kumar’s remarks have a direct relation with Pavan Varma, his observations also bear a proximate relationship with Kishor’s statements that almost seem tantamount to taking an anti-party stand.
While Pavan Varma has faced a massive blow after the Bihar CM made it clear that he won’t tolerate naysayers, Prashant Kishor’s political ambitions too seem to have taken a hit.