Patna/IBNS: Former political strategist and as aspiring politician Prashant Kishor has taken a dig at Rashtriya Janata Dal top leader Tejashwi Yadav who claimed Bihar was lagging behind in key areas of development despite the "double engine" government run by Janata Dal (United) and Bharatiya Janata Party.

When asked for a response, Kishor, who is set to formally launch his party Jan Suraaj, said it seems laughable to him when Tejashwi, the son of former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, speaks about development.

In a dig at Tejashwi, who remained the Deputy Chief Minister with Nitish Kumar as his boss in the past, said, "I am not sure about Tejashwi Yadav's understanding of development. I can give reactions if he speaks on caste, extortion, liquor mafia, crime. If Tejashwi Yadav discusses development then it is laughable. How can I give comments on people who have no understanding of GDP and GDP growth?"

"When it comes to crime, Bihar was Switzerland to Tejashwi Yadav six months earlier when he was the Deputy Chief Minister. Now Bihar has become gutter. Bihar will seem great to Tejashwi Yadav again if Nitish Kumar rejoins Mahagathbandhan," the Jan Suraaj chief added.

Speaking at the Bihar assembly, Tejashwi, who is the Leader of Opposition, had said as quoted by NDTV, "Bihar is number one in unemployment, poverty, inflation and in corruption... Bihar is also number one in crime...

"Despite having a government at the Centre and state, nothing has been corrected... BJP people are greedy for power only. They have nothing to do with the public."

Kishor, who worked with several top Indian politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is set to formally launch his party on October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

The Jan Suraj chief has claimed his party will contest in all 243 seats that will go to polls next year.

"Jan Suraaj will contest in all 243 seats out of which at least 40 candidates will be women. In 2030, about 70 women will be given a chance after proper grooming," Kishor said stressing on women empowerment.

JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar has remained the Chief Minister on two occasions since 2015 in an alliance with RJD and Congress.

Just ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Nitish dumped the Grand Alliance or Mahagathbandhan and rejoined the National Democratic Alliance or NDA which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP.

As Modi's BJP failed to secure the majority in the General Elections by 32 seats, Nitish emerged as the kingmaker becoming a key ally in the central government.