Nitish, also the National President of the JD(U), has consented to attend an official lunch hosted by the PM at the latter's residence in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
A day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "skipped" Congress President Sonia Gandhi's luncheon meet for Opposition parties, meant to discuss the upcoming Presidential polls, Nitish has set tongues wagging in political circles after reports emerged in the media of a scheduled meeting he has with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
Nitish, also the National President of the JD(U), has consented to attend an official lunch hosted by the PM at the latter's residence in New Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
The JD(U), however, was quick to clarify that Saturday's meeting was "an official administrative meeting being hosted in the honour of the visiting Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth". "Biharis comprise about 52 per cent of the Mauritian population and there is a strong emotional connect between us. It is an official meeting, not a personal one," JD(U) spokesperson Ajay Alok told DNA. He added that Nitish's lunch programme with the PM was fixed more than two weeks ago.
On the Bihar CM not attending Friday's Opposition meet, Alok said, "The Congress President had called the meeting at Nitish's behest. It was fixed four days ago and Gandhi already knew that he will not be able to attend the meet due to prior engagements. He has talked to her over the phone a couple of times and there is no confusion anywhere."
Former JD(U) President Sharad Yadav represented the party at Friday's meet, where ally and RJD President Lalu Prasad Yadav was also in attendance. Nitish, too, on several recent occasions in Patna, has called for Opposition unity for the Presidential polls and even said that he would support a second term for President Pranab Mukherjee.
But apart from the crucial presidential election, Nitish's meet with Modi is also being seen in the backdrop of the recent corruption charges against Lalu Yadav and his clan. "It was never smooth sailig for the Mahagathbandhan. And now, with the BJP pressing the benami deal charges against Lalu, he is becoming a liability for Nitish," a senior Mahagathbandhan leader said.
Analysis
Not only has Nitish ruled out any prime ministerial aspirations, but a rash of corruption charges against Mahagathbandhan partner Lalu Yadav and his family in the past couple of weeks have taken a toll on the coalition.
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