“Bihar Discussing Polls, Not Virus”: Prashant Kishor Attacks Nitish Kumar

Patna/ New Delhi:

Election-strategist Prashant Kishor attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar this morning for launching ballot marketing campaign within the state the place meeting elections are due later this yr amid the nation’s battle in opposition to coronavirus. Last week, Mr Kumar’s Janata Dal United and its ally, the BJP, went into election mode within the state, the place polls are due in October-November. Amit Shah had held a digital rally whereas Mr Kumar held a collection of interactions together with his get together’s district chiefs.

“Despite the lowest testing rate, 7-9 per cent positive case rate and more than 6,000 cases, Bihar is discussing elections instead of coronavirus. Nitish Kumar, who had confined himself to his home amid coronavirus fears, thinks people won’t be exposed (to COVID-19) if they step out of their homes to participate in the elections,” Prashant Kishor tweeted in Hindi.

This morning’s assault by Mr Kishor is the most recent in a collection of tweets he posted in opposition to Bihar’s response to coronavirus. The 43-year-old election strategist was a prime aide of Nitish Kumar throughout his transient stint in Janata Dal United earlier than he was sacked in January. 

Mr Kumar, 69, has most likely been one of many few chief ministers within the nation who didn’t maintain a video convention for the journalists or the folks of his state on the pandemic after India introduced one of many world’s strictest lockdowns to examine the unfold of the extremely infectious sickness in March.

Mr Kumar has additionally drawn political assaults as a result of he by no means stepped out of his authorities bungalow on 1, Anne Marg in Patna since March 16.

He made his first public appearances on Tuesday, as he stepped out to attend a cupboard assembly after 84 days of social distancing. However, he had been holding digital conferences together with his get together employees.

While the variety of coronavirus circumstances within the state touched the 6,000-mark, Nitish Kumar on Thursday disclosed that within the upcoming state polls, his principal promise to voters might be irrigation services to all of the agricultural land within the state.

Mr Kishor has additionally been attacking the Centre over its tackling of the pandemic.

“#COVID can’t be wished away. We must fight or it will keep getting worse. Globally, leaders have won this fight with HUMILITY, TRANSPARENCY, SCIENCE & widespread PUBLIC BUY-IN. Time we learn from others and show the courage to go back to the DRAWING BOARD before it’s too late. (sic),” Mr Kishor tweeted on Friday.