Tejashwi skips event attended by Nitish

The political crisis in Bihar deepened on Saturday with Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, facing CBI charges, skipping a government function attended by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The latest sign of an uneasy relationship became evident when Tejashwi did not turn up for the programme at Gyan Bhavan here.

His name plaque, which was covered with a writing pad, was removed when Nitish came to the dais at the Ashoka Convention Centre. In fact, Nitish’s antipathy towards the RJD was quite palpable when he exchanged his chair, which was next to  Labour Minister and RJD leader Vijay Prakash.

Water Resources Minister Lallan Singh from JD (U) sat beside Vijay Prakash, prompting Nitish to clarify that he exchanged his chair because of the “strong breeze from AC.”

The function was held to mark the World Youth Skills Day. The episode gave an indication of how the acrimony between the two Grand Alliance partners was growing in the wake of the CBI registering an FIR against Tejashwi, Lalu, his wife Rabri Devi and five others, following raids in connection with a land-for-hotels scam case.

With the unofficial four-day deadline for Tejashwi to “clarify or quit” ending on Saturday evening, Nitish has convened a meeting of JD (U) legislators here on Sunday.

The JD (U) Legislature Party (JDULP) meeting, which has been convened at 4 pm at the Chief Minister’s official residence, is scheduled to hold parleys about the presidential poll, slated for July 17, but Nitish may use the occasion to firm up his strategy to overcome the deadlock over Tejashwi issue.