The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday launched a scathing attack on ally Janata Dal (United) leader and political strategist Prashant Kishor over his comments that his party should contest more seats than the saffron party in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said those who entered politics by running a company that “collects political data and coins slogan” are hurting the National Democratic Alliance with their adverse remarks.

“It has been decided that the 2020 Assembly election will be contested under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the BJP leader tweeted. “The decision regarding seat sharing will be taken by the leadership at an appropriate time. There is no problem in that.”

“But those who have entered politics not driven by ideology, but are engaged in the business of collating political data and coining slogans are making utterances in violation of coalition dharma and benefiting the Opposition in the bargain,” Sushil Modi added, without naming Kishor.

Kishor hit back at Sushil Modi, and said it was the people of Bihar who gave JD(U) the status of the largest party in the state. He also took a dig at Modi for his views on “political boundaries”.

In the Lok Sabha elections held in May, JD(U) and BJP had contested 17 seats each. Six seats were allocated to Ramvilas Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar sought to downplay the war of words, NDTV reported. “Sab theek hai [all is well],” Kumar said when asked about it.

“As far as my understanding is concerned, it [the seat share] should be one is to 1: 1.4 ratio as it was the practice in 2009 and 2010 Assembly elections,” Kishor had said on Sunday.

Kishor has time and again also expressed his disappointment with the party’s decision to vote in favour of the Citizenship Amendment Bill in both House of Parliament. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is yet to issue a statement on the matter.