Nitish Kumar skips Yoga day celebrations in Bihar

This is the third year in a row when the JD(U) chief has abstained the annual yoga function but the first time after his party joined the NDA in July last year.

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and JD(U) president stayed away from events organized to mark the annual International Yoga Day here on Friday. In the last two years as well Nitish Kumar had stayed away from similar programs.

This is the third year in a row when the JD(U) chief has abstained the annual yoga function but the first time after his party joined the NDA in July last year.

However, his Deputy Sushil Kumar Modi and other Cabinet Ministers, from both the BJP and it's National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ally JD-U, attended the main function at Patliputra Sports Complex.

The state's ruling NDA leaders joined common people in performing Yoga at other events held across the state.

"Nitish Kumar is not attending the Yoga Day celebrations," said an official from the Chief Minister's Office.

According to Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leaders, their party President practices yoga every morning and strongly favors its promotion, but opposes its use for political propaganda.