"This has become part of his politics": Prashant Kishor tears into Nitish Kumar for dumping INDIA bloc

Begusarai (Bihar) [India], January 28 (ANI): Prashant Kishor, a political strategist and chief of Jan Suraj on Sunday took a swipe at acting Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who is set to take oath for the post yet again after splitting with 'mahagathbandhan', saying that switching sides has become a norm of Kumar's politics.
Addressing a press conference here, Prashant said that the development taking place in Bihar is proof that every leader of the state is 'paltumar' (the one who keeps changing sides).
"I have been saying this since starting that Nitish Kumar can swap anytime. This has become a part of his politics... He is a 'paltumaar'. But this (registration of Nitish Kumar) has also proved that not only Nitish Kumar, but BJP and every other leader is also a 'paltumaar' he said.
Prashant also came down heavily on the BJP, saying that the party that accused Nitish Kumar since he snapped his ties with the NDA in 2022, is now 'welcoming' him.
"Their (BJP) members who were earlier accusing him for several issues are today welcoming him...the RJD that was calling him 'sushashan babu' till the morning will now be abusing him," he added.
Nitish Kumar is all set to take the oath as the Chief Minister of Bihar for a record ninth time. The swearing-in ceremony will happen at 5 pm on Sunday, with two Deputy Chief Ministers - Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha and six other cabinet ministers also taking oath.
Nitish Kumar cited the state of affairs being "not right" under the Mahagathbandhan alliance as his reason for quitting. He said that he has been receiving suggestions from everywhere, including his party workers, and he listened to all of them to come to this decision.
"The situation was such that I had to quit," the JD(U) veteran said, speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation to Bihar Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar.
In the Bihar Assembly of 243, the RJD has 79 MLAs; followed by the BJP's 78; the JD(U)'s 45' the Congress's 19, the CPI (M-L)'s 12, two each of the CPI(M) and CPI, the Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular)'s four seats, and the AIMIM's one, plus one Independent legislator.
Nitish Kumar, after parting ways with the BJP in 2022, took on the initiative of uniting all opposition forces to jointly take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling party in the national election.
In 2000, Nitish became CM for the first time after campaigning against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's 'Jungle Raaj'. Till now, he has been Bihar's CM on eight occasions.
In 2013, Nitish broke ranks with the NDA after a 17-year alliance following the announcement of Narendra Modi as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.
He expressed his displeasure to the BJP over Modi's selection as the PM face, and after the BJP decided to not change its decision, Kumar left the alliance.
In 2017, Nitish forged a grand alliance with the RJD and Congress and returned as chief minister in 2015.
He walked out of the grand alliance in 2017, accusing the RJD of corruption and choking governance in the state.
In 2022, Nitish Kumar snapped ties with the BJP once again, alleging the BJP was conspiring against him and trying to influence JD-U MLAs to rebel against him. (ANI)