Ending days of speculation, election strategist-turned-national vice president of Bihars ruling Janata Dal-United party, Prashant Kishor, Tuesday said he would not contest elections,including the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha polls the for next 10 years.


I will continue to work without contesting elections for the next 10 years to serve Bihar, Kishor said. He added that his goal was to work to help Bihar enter the top 10 developed states of the country.


There was speculation in political circles in Patna whether Kishor would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls after he joined the JD-U last month.


It was also reported in local Hindi dailies that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also the party's president, is likely to send Kishor to the Rajya Sabha soon.


Kishore said he will devote his entire time and energy to strategise and strengthen the JD-U in the state and outside it.


Prashant Kishor was appointed party national vice president by Nitish Kumar recently that is widely seen as his elevation to second position in the JD-U after Nitish Kumar.


In in his 40s, known as a successful polls strategist for a number of parties including the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha and JD-U in 2015 Bihar assembly polls, Kishor is considered close to Nitish Kumar.  



More than any one he enjoys the trust and confidence of Nitish Kumar, a senior JD-U leader said.


Over the last two days, the party VP has been busy meeting and interacting with youth activists of the JD-U, mostly from the youth and student wing.


-- MI Khan/Rediff.com