Team Mamata reaches out to Nitish's strategist

One of the directors of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), the advocacy group led by Kishor, had shown interest

Kolkata: As Bengal warms up for Assembly elections next year, it will look to go the Bihar way. According to a Telegraph report, Mamata Banerjee’s aides have approached Prashant Kishor, the election strategist who drove Nitish Kumar to victory in Bihar.

According to the report, source told the newspaper that one of the directors of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), the advocacy group led by Kishor, had shown interest. "The Mamata Banerjee camp has evinced interest in seeking the services of our organisation for the 2016 Bengal Assembly polls," the source was quoted as saying.

However, Mamata Banerjee chose to keep it under wraps. "There hasn't been any discussion with him as of now.... How can I tell you?" she said.

Nitish Kumar on Monday called up his West Bengal counterpart and invited her to attend his swearing-in ceremony. According to sources, Kumar first thanked Banerjee for her support and congratulatory message and then requested her to attend his swearing-in ceremony which is likely to be held after Diwali and Chhat festivals. “The Bihar chief minister will send the formal invitation card/letter to Didi after the finalisation of the date of swearing-in,” sources added.

While the five-phase Assembly elections were in progress, Banerjee had asked the voters of Bihar to vote for Nitish Kumar-led Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance). “Request you all in Bihar to please vote to re-elect Nitish Kumarji as the chief minister for greater need of our country and development in the state,” she had tweeted ahead of the third phase of the poll.

On Sunday, when it became clear that the Grand Alliance was going to win, she tweeted again. “Congratulations Nitish Kumarji, Laluji and your full team, and all my Bihar brothers and sisters. Victory of tolerance, defeat of intolerance,” she said. Her party spokesperson Derek O’Brien went a step further and claimed that BJP was defeated and India was saved.