New Delhi: Two of the men who have been in the news most since the Bihar election result today had a meeting that drew much interest and speculation.

Prashant Kishor, the election strategist credited with Nitish Kumar's victory in Bihar, met former union minister Arun Shourie, who has been sharply critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in the past few weeks.

"Mr Shourie is an old and personal friend," said Mr Kishor.

The meeting is significant two days after BJP veterans LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha came out with a scathing statement saying that the party had been "emasculated" and its stand of collective responsibility for the Bihar defeat was a means of shirking responsibility.

Mr Shourie was reportedly involved in drafting the statement on behalf of his former cabinet colleagues. All four were a part of the previous BJP-led government headed by Atal Behari Vajpayee but were kept out of decision-making after the party's comeback.

The veterans' statement alleged that the party had been "forced to kowtow to a handful, and how its consensual character has been destroyed." In response, the BJP said that it welcomed their guidance and would attempt to overcome shortcomings though a dialogue with them.

Prashant Kishor was also the brains behind PM Modi's blockbuster campaign for last year's national election. His innovative ideas to create a buzz around Mr Modi and pitch him as a development man included the wildly popular "chai pe charcha (discussions over tea)".

After the BJP returned to power, Mr Kishor walked out and switched over to PM Modi's arch enemy Nitish Kumar.

After a second election victory in his bag, Mr Kishor has reportedly been approached by West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress ahead of polls due by next year.

Nitish Kumar's victory has been seen by opposition political parties as a turning point in their campaign against the ruling BJP.