A month after strategist Prashant Kishor formally joined the JDU, national president Nitish Kumar virtually made him number 2 in the party’s hierarchy — the national vice-president.

The post did not exist right from JDU’s inception. “Nitishji has made Prashant Kishor the national vice-president of the party, keeping in view his organisational abilities,” the party’s national spokesperson, K.C. Tyagi, said on Tuesday. Tyagi said that though Kishor was not a party member before he joined the JDU, he had a vast experience in building political strategies. The party issued a one-sentence statement announcing Kishor’s elevation and expressing confidence that his “experience and expertise would take the party to a new height”.

That Kishor would be given an important assignment by Nitish was known to everybody in the JDU. However, the appointment came as a surprise for many JDU leaders. “Once Kishore was made a member of the state council of the party and elevated to the national council, we knew he would be given something big. But the post he has been given came as a surprise,” a party MLC said.

The newly-appointed national vice president tweeted his thanks to the party, expressing confidence in him. “I am committed to Bihar and Nitishji’s commitment to development with justice,” Kishore said.

The RJD has dismissed Kishor’s elevation. “What can the JDU gain by installing a non-political to such a high post,” asked RJD MLA Bhai Birendar. Kishor had played a key role during the formation of the Grand Alliance between Nitish and RJD chief Lalu Prasad in 2015. After the alliance romped home, RJD leaders credited Lalu and not Kishor for scripting the Grand Alliance’s victory.

Kishor’s elevation is going to impact functioning of the JDU, which, till now, was manned by MP R.C.P. Sinha. “RCP will continue to play an important role in the power structure. But Nitish will look to Kishor to revitalise the party at the grassroots level,” said a senior JDU minister, pointing out that RCP had failed to lift the spirit of JDU workers despite touring across the state. The party is reeling under defeats in by-polls and would like to stop the slide. Prashant is familiar with senior JDU leaders as he played a key role in devising a strategy for the 2015 Assembly polls. “However, it lies to be seen how Kishor interacts with party workers and leaders now that he is an insider,” said a JDU MLC.

State BJP leaders appeared weary about Kishor’s elevation. They are wondering if Kishor would play a part in seat-sharing for the Lok Sabha polls. They are also sceptical about their national president, Amit Shah, being ready to give space to Kishor on Alliance issues. “After all everybody knows that Kishor left the BJP after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls because of his differences with Shah and not Modi,” said a senior BJP leader.