JDU expels Prashant Kishor & Pavan Varma; thank you & God bless you for retaining CM post, responds Kishor

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) on Wednesday expelled its vice president Prashant Kishor and general secretary, Pavan Varma, from the party, saying their conduct in recent past has made it clear that they don't want to abide by the party's discipline.

Both the leaders have been critical of the party president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over his support to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Population Register (NPR).

A JD(U) statement, issued by the party's chief general secretary KC Tyagi, said that these two were "acting against party's decisions as well as its functioning" which amounted to breach of discipline.

The party also accused Kishor of using "insulting words" against the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

Soon after his expulsion from JD(U), Prashant Kishor on Wednesday took a dig at party president Nitish Kumar, offering him his best wishes for "retaining" the chief ministership of Bihar.

In a tweet minutes after the JD(U) suspended Kishor, Kishor said, "Thank you Nitish Kumar. My best wishes to you to retain the chair of Chief Minister of Bihar. God bless you."

Kishor, who was the vice president of JD(U), was expelled from the party after he criticised Kumar's stand to support the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Population Register.

Kumar had on Tuesday slammed Kishor over his critical remarks, and said he had inducted him in the party at the prodding of Union Home Minister and former BJP president Amit Shah. Kishor had reacted furiously and accused Kumar of lying.

The JD(U) statement said, "it is imperative that Kishor be removed from the party, so that he doesn't fall any lower."