Reduced In Stature, Dependent On BJP: Ex-MP Pavan Varma On Nitish Kumar

Confirmation of how the BJP played the split between its allies Lok Janshakti Party and the Janata Dal (United) came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rallies, former parliamentarian Pavan K Varma said. PM Modi paid tribute to late Ram Vilas Paswan, but did not criticise his son who was brutal in his attack on Nitish Kumar – an ally of the BJP-led NDA. Mr Varma noted that though Chirag Paswan may have parted ways with the NDA in Bihar, his party remains an ally at the Centre. He explained the trajectory of Nitish Kumar's decline from a Prime Ministerial candidate to being relegated to the second position in his own state. "This is exactly where BJP wanted Mr Kumar, reduced in stature and dependent," he said.