PATNA, May 19 -- Once two of the closest confidants of JD(U) chief and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, former Union minister RCP Singh and Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Sunday joined hands to add some zing to the state politics in the election bound year, which was evident within hours. RCP Singh, made JD(U) president in 2020, had formed his own party Aap Sabki Awaaz (AASA) last year with a vow to field candidates on all the 140 seats, but announced his party's merger with Jan Suraaj at a joint press conference with Kishor, who was once catapulted to the position of JD(U) vice president and left it due to differences over support to CAA/NRC. Soon after the merger, PK headed for Kalyan Bigha, Nitish Kumar's native place, where heavy police deployment was made allegedly to prevent his entry. "I am going there. If Nitish government is so afraid to stop me from meeting people in one village, I want to know will he stop me from going to 40,000 villages?" he quipped. Kishor had earlier announced to undertake a Yatra from Kalyan Bigha in Nalanda to launch a signature campaign to ascertain if the promise of Rs.2-lakh to the 94 poor families found in the caste survey was fulfilled or not. "I just want to ascertain if anyone in CM's village has got it or not," he told media persons on way to Kalyan Bigha. However, Kishor was later stopped by the administration from entering the village citing lack of prior permission. Describing RCP as elder brother, PK said his long administrative, political and social experience would give a big boost to the growing aspiration for change in Bihar with an alternative that had no place for crime, corruption and communalism, which Nitish Kumar once talked about. "RCP Singh and Prashant Kishor came together long before Nitish Kumar joined hands with Lalu Prasad in 2015. RCP Singh has huge experience of running a political organisation, which no other leader can match. Bihar people are desperate for a viable alternative and Jan Suraaj is here to provide that," said PK, adding that Nitish Kunar was no more mentally fit and he no more held the state's rein, which was in the hands of four-five officers and contractor type people. "Now, JD(U) is no more in the hands of Nitish Kumar, who is not even in command in the government. JD(U) is no more what it once was. I appeal to the people that JD(U) is a sinking ship. Those who respected the ideology Nitish Kumar once possessed need to leave the JD(U) ship at the earliest," he added. RCP Singh said he and PK had worked for the NDA as well as INDIA bloc, but now time had come to build own house together in the larger interest of the state. "Jan Suraaj is committed to people's cause and that is what has brought me here to usher in much needed change in the state," he added. RCP also refuted allegations that he was instrumental behind the ouster of PK from JD(U) after the party voted in favour of CAA/NRC in Parliament and said all decisions were taken by Nitish Kumar as long as he was in sound mental state. JD(U), meanwhile, reacted strongly to ASA-Jan Suraaj merger. Party chief spokesman Neeraj Kumar said it would prove futile, as people did not look beyond Nitish Kumar, who had no match. "Both are discredited persons. RCP was Nitish Kumar's private secretary and whatever he claims to have achieved is all because of Nitish Kumar," he added. JD(U) state chief Umesh Kushwaha said RCP knocking the doors of Jan Suraaj was a clear indicator of his lost political relevance and it was solely aimed at reviving his fortunes. "Both are destined to fail," he added. Hindustani Awam Morcha - Secular patron and Union minister Nitan Ram Manjhi also made light of the merger. "Germs and viruses are joining hands to decimate the opponent, but they don't know we have a strong anti-virus. Both RCP and PK should understand this," he added. Leader of Opposition and RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav said that everyone was aware who was behind it and nothing would work this time. "One of them was president of the JD(U) and another one was vice president earlier. People understand what is happening at whose behest," he added. BJP leader Syed Shahnawaz Hussain said in Delhi that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) remained strong in Bihar under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar and was poised to win over 200 seats in the upcoming elections. Hussain said,"It will not make any difference if anyone joins hands with anyone." Political analysts feel the merger would have political implications, and it could herald a new churning to create room for ticket hopefuls, as tremors post seat-sharing in both NDA and Opposition were yet to be felt. "RCP alone might not have that kind of political weight, but with PK it could have some impact even before election by drawing the attention of fence sitters with new options. Jan Suraaj has worked hard for three years. Though it did not have desired success in the by-polls, it did enough to send the message across that it could do enough to upset others' calculations," said social analyst and former director of AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies DM Diwakar....