To a query whether the Bihar unit would welcome Mishra into the party fold, Kumar remarked sarcastically: He is a great personality. He is wise, and has a big name and history. The state unit wanted to create a new leadership infused with new ideas, and Mishra clearly did not fit into this, he remarked. He, however, said that joining the BJP would have been a homecmoming for Mishra since he had been a member of the Jan Sangh, the BJP's earlier incarnation.
Mishra had even contested for a legislative council seat on the Jan Sangh ticket, his first election, Kumar pointed out.