New Delhi, August 29, 2023: Political strategist Prashant Kishor has raised questions about the potential influence of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Nitish Kumar, both participants in the joint opposition alliance, on national politics ahead of the 2024 general elections.
In a video shared on X (formerly Twitter), Kishor mocked the alliance’s impact, highlighting RJD’s lack of Lok Sabha representation and Kumar’s diminishing authority in his own state.
Addressing RJD’s role, Kishor remarked, “RJD does not have a single MP from Bihar…is it possible for such a party to decide who governs the nation?” Regarding Nitish Kumar, he continued, “Nitish ji’s own condition is so bad, his foothold is shrinking in his own state… What role can you play in national politics when you are becoming less powerful by the day?”
Kishor, once associated with Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), emphasized that the Congress, Trinamool, and DMK lead the opposition bloc due to their substantial state governance and parliamentary presence. He pointed out, “Only Bihar’s media talks about Nitish Kumar…you go to other states, nobody talks about him.”
Kishor reiterated that Bihar’s Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) holds relevance within the state but lacks significance on the national political stage. The alliance, consisting of several parties under the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A), aims to challenge the ruling BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The coalition has held two meetings, with a third round of discussions scheduled for Mumbai on August 31 and September 1, expecting an increase in the number of participating parties. As the opposition consolidates its strategies, Kishor’s remarks raise pertinent questions about the role and impact of individual parties within the larger alliance framework.
