PATNA: Senior JD(U) leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s 11th hour decision to skip a public meeting attended by many senior Congress leaders here on Tuesday has sent out a clear signal that the JD(U) is keeping a safe distance from its alliance partner in the state. The public meeting to mark the 127th birth anniversary of the state’s first CM Krishna Singh was conspicuous by Nitish’s absence. Interestingly, the JD(U) leader was to inaugurate the programme, the organising committee of which included some of his senior party leaders, including senior minister Mahachandra Singh.
“We had invited Nitish formally and it was he who motivated us to organise the event,” Mahachandra told reporters.
Though most of the senior JD(U) leaders boycotted the function, CM Jitan Ram Manjhi was present and shared the dais with senior Congress leaders such as AICC general secretary C P Joshi and former LS Speaker Meira Kumar.