Patna, Feb. 14: Chief minister Nitish Kumar strongly defended his newly appointed cabinet-rank adviser, Prashant Kishor, praising his "talent and hard work" when a party activist raised a question on Kishor at the JDU state working committee meeting here today.

Dal sources revealed that Bindeshwari Singh, a party functionary and former president of the party's labour cell, raised question on Kishor, stating: "The people at the ground-level ask us whether it was your (Nitish's) victory or Kishor's victory in the Assembly polls. There is a lot of confusion prevailing about him (Kishor) among the cadres at the grassroots-level."

At this, a source quoting Nitish said: "Prashant Kishor is a hard-working and talented person. I have always promoted the hard working and talented people. I will ensure that Kishor keeps on rising in his career by virtue of his work." A section of party workers is reported to be sulking at Kishor gaining more attention at Nitish's durbar (court). Recently, Sanjay Jha resigned as the member of the state planning board. The grapevine interpreted the resignation of Jha - a close confidante of Nitish - as the manifestation of silent protest against Kishor's elevation.