Prashant Kishor has been attacking the Bihar government and centre over response to coronavirus.

Poll-strategist Prashant Kishor this morning attacked Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar – his former boss – who launched the poll campaign last week in his state where assembly elections due later this year.

He joined the growing criticism against Nitish Kumar who had been missing in action amid the coronavirus crisis since March 16. India had announced one of the world’s strictest lockdowns to check the spread of the highly infectious illness on March 24 and Nitish Kumar was probably one of the few chief ministers in the country who did not hold a video conference for the journalists or the people of his state in the following two months.

“Despite the lowest testing rate, 7-9 per cent positive case rate and more than 6,000 cases, Bihar is discussing elections instead of coronavirus. Nitish Kumar, who had confined himself to his home amid coronavirus fears, thinks people won’t be exposed (to COVID-19) if they step out of their homes to participate in the elections,” Prashant Kishor tweeted in Hindi.

Mr Kumar had drawn political attacks not only because he avoided any media interaction during the past few months but also because he never stepped out of his government bungalow on 1, Anne Marg in Patna since March 16. He made one of the first public appearances this month. On Tuesday, he stepped out to attend a cabinet meeting after 84 days of social distancing. However, he was holding virtual meetings with his party workers. 

While the state has crossed the 6,000-mark in coronavirus cases, the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has now gone into election mode with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal United and the BJP in overdrive.

Nitish Kumar on Thursday disclosed that in the upcoming state polls, his main promise to voters will be irrigation facilities to all the agricultural land in the state.

This morning’s attack by Mr Kishor is the latest in the series of tweets that the 43-year-old election strategist, who was sacked by Nitish Kumar from JDU earlier this year, has been posting against Bihar’s response to coronavirus.

He has also been attacking the centre over its tackling of the pandemic. “#COVID can’t be wished away. We must fight or it will keep getting worse. Globally, leaders have won this fight with HUMILITY, TRANSPARENCY, SCIENCE & widespread PUBLIC BUY-IN. Time we learn from others and show the courage to go back to the DRAWING BOARD before it’s too late. (sic),” Mr Kishor tweeted on Friday.

Across India, the number of cases have touched the 3.2 lakh-mark, more than 9,000 patients have died.