Amid rumours of rejoining JD(U), Pawan Varma meets Nitish Kumar

Former diplomat and JD national general secretary Pawan Varma, who was expelled from the party in January 2020 for questioning Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his “ideological clarity” on ties with the BJP beyond Bihar, met Mr. Kumar on Monday in Patna, sparking speculation that he may rejoin the party. When asked about the possibility of his rejoining the JD, Mr. Varma added, “There are always possibilities in politics but there was no such talk with Nitish Kumar over my rejoining the party and I am yet to make any decision over it but I will always remain Nitish Kumar ji’s well-wisher.” Specific task However, the buzz in political circles is that Mr. Varma was called by Mr. Kumar with a specific task to control poll strategist Prashant Kishor, who currently is undertaking journeys across the length and breadth of Bihar while meeting local people, getting their feedback on governance and also attacking the Chief Minister on his remarks and statements against him. “During the 2015 Assembly elections in Bihar, Prashant Kishor was living at Nitish Kumar’s residence and both of them know each other well,” added Mr. Varma. “The party’s national president had given much honour to Pawan Varma than he deserved but he thought it as party’s compulsion…the party runs with collective responsibilities but some people get in delusion that the party runs on their thoughts,” said JD’s press release on their expulsion and both the expelled leaders wished Mr. Kumar to “retain the chair of Chief Minister of Bihar”.