EXPECTING ONE FINAL FLIP FROM NITISH

IT IS NOW too late for Nitish Kumar. When I joined him in 2013, his popularity was at its peak. The BJP was a junior partner in Bihar then and he could have aimed for prime ministership. I was very close to him and that was why I opted to join his party.

- PAVAN K. VARMA

He had many qualities—good education, personal rectitude, administrative capability, and an eye for detail. He had managed to be electorally efficient as well. He was a force to be reckoned with. At that time he had a vision for Bihar.

I visited him on his invitation, prior to my resigning from the Indian Foreign Service. For a few days, he sent me on a trip around Patna. There is Bihar Sharif. Then there is Patna Sahib for Sikhs. Then, I went to Pavapuri for Jains and Bodh Gaya for Buddhists. Finally I went to Gaya. He had this thing about Bihar being a microcosm of what India was—of different faiths.