Bihar: While BJP, JDU skip each other’s events, Nitish Kumar attends rival Jitan Manjhi's Iftar party

Earlier, it was reported that BJP leaders skipped the yearly "iftar" hosted by JDU. Similarly, no JDU leader was seen at the "iftar" hosted by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi.

Patna: Union minister Ramvilas Paswan, Bihar Governor Lalji Tondon and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at an Iftar party during the holy month of Ramadan, in Patna, Monday, June 3, 2019. (PTI Photo)

New Delhi: Amid reports of strained ties between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal-United (JDU) in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday evening attended arch-rival and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Iftar party at his residence. Besides, Kumar along with Sushil Modi, also attended the iftar hosted by Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan at his house. On Sunday it was reported that BJP leaders skipped the yearly "iftar" hosted by JDU. Similarly, no JDU leader was seen at the "iftar" hosted by Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi. This has raised the political temperature in the state with key opposition parties uniting in lashing out at the two parties. Bihar's main opposition party RJD has alleged that the current situation reaffirms that the public has been cheated. "Though it is an internal issue of these two parties, it cannot be denied that these two parties came together to betray people of Bihar. This is why the public has to bear the brunt of political strain between these two parties," RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha told ANI. Previously, RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha had taken a jibe at the JDU-BJP alliance by stating that BJP must be ready for a 'second betrayal' from Nitish Kumar. Similarly, Congress leader Tariq Anwar outlined JDU's missing representation from the Union Cabinet to assert that everything doesn't seem right between the two parties. "Nitish Kumar is teaching BJP a lesson. He refused its offer of giving one cabinet berth in Central cabinet to JDU and later expanded the Bihar cabinet by completely sidelining the BJP legislators. This makes it evident that not everything is right between two alliance partners and in coming times Nitish Kumar can create problems for BJP. He has already hinted that he has other options", said Anwar. While the "iftar" parties in Bihar have gained traction this year after JDU refused to be a part of Union Cabinet, Nitish Kumar has however, repeatedly denied any misunderstanding between the NDA allies. The JDU on May 30 decided to not be a part of Prime Minister Modi's new ministry, rejecting the BJP's offer of only one ministerial berth. The JDU chief, who later attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony on May 30, had said, "It is not a big issue. We are in the NDA and are not upset at all. We are working together. There is no confusion." (With inputs from agencies)