Prashant Kishore

AMN / PATNA

Janata Dal (United) president Nitish Kumar Tuesday appointed Prashant Kishor as the party’s vice president.

Kishor, who has worked for a number of parties as a poll strategist, recently joined the ruling party in Bihar. Party spokesperson K C Tyagi said Kishor’s appointment will help it reach out to social segments out of its traditional support base.

Party spokesperson KC Tyagi said Kishor’s appointment will help it reach out to social segments out of its traditional support base.

He parted ways with the BJP thereafter and is credited with bringing all opposition parties together in Bihar to script a massive victory of JD(U), RJD and Congress combine in 2015.

According to sources, Kishor and Kumar had developed a great rapport when the two scripted the unlikely victory.

By picking Kishor, Kumar has offered an alternate model for choosing his successor in a polity where blood is given preference and is trusted over relationships built on common vision and understanding.

Kishore started his career as a public health expert and worked for programmes run by the United Nations. Ahead of the 2014 general elections, Kishore worked closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election campaign.