Varma: Kishor’s drive holds key to next step

NEW DELHI: Former Janata Dal (United) Rajya Sabha member of Parliament (MP), Pavan Varma, is of the opinion that political strategist, Prashant Kishor’s, ‘Baat Bihar ki’ ‘ holds the key’ in a possible third front coming to fruition in the poll-bound state, where election is slated to be held in November.

“It’s too early to tell. Right now he [Kishor] and I believe that Bihar is on the cusp of a transformative change.

We are seeing an aspirational Bihar. We are seeing whether mass support can convert an apolitical platform to a political movement. How that is done and in what manner will be decided soon,” Varma told

HT.

Kishor launched ‘Baat Bihar ki’ last month to mobilise likeminded people who believe in the development of Bihar.

Kishor was expelled from the JD(U) by state chief minister (CM) and his one-time mentor, Nitish Kumar, for criticising the party’s support for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Varma too was expelled for joining issue with Kumar over the similar issue.

Sources told HT that Kishor has already met Congress Bihar chief Madan Mohan Jha, former

Biharchief minister (CM) and Hindustani Awam Morcha head, Jitan Ram Manjhi, and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party president, Upendra Kushwaha.

Varma said he is in constant touch with Kishor as a “friend” and “colleague”, but the career diplomat-turned-politician himself is still undecided on his political future.

“I haven’t yet decided on which party to join. I’ve recently been expelled from a party which I wear as a badge of honour because I did what I believed was right,” he said.

KISHOR LAUNCHED ‘BAAT BIHAR KI’ LAST MONTH TO MOBILISE LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIHAR