JOIN USIn what is perceived as a huge blow to the so-called Opposition unity, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will have lunch with his arch-rival Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday.
Though the JD(U) termed the meeting with Modi official, the timing assumes enormous significance as it comes a day after Kumar refused to attend Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s luncheon meeting in New Delhi.
Eyebrows are bound to be raised in political circles as the JD(U) national president, who runs his government with the support of the Congress and the RJD, has of late been cosying up to his erstwhile ally — the BJP-led NDA.
The decision to skip Sonia’s meet has already set the rumours mills working overtime, with reports emerging that he is unhappy with the land scams related to RJD chief Lalu Prasad.
According to sources, the prime minister is hosting the lunch in honour of Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.
Sources in the ruling camp here said that Sonia’s close aide Ahmed Patel had called up Kumar requesting him to attend the crucial meeting convened for talks on a likely Opposition candidate for the presidential poll. However, Kumar politely turned down the request, citing prior engagements, and said a representative from the JD(U) would attend the luncheon.
Interestingly, it was Kumar who had met Sonia in New Delhi last month and mooted the idea that the Congress, being the largest political outfit, should lead the non-BJP front in its fight against the NDA.