PATNA: Amid speculations over political realignment in Bihar, CM Nitish Kumar is likely to meet the Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and some other members of the RJD chief Lalu Praad’s family during another Dawat-E-Iftar being hosted by ruling JD(U) in the state capital here on Thursday.
As Nitish’s party JD(U) on Wednesday sent formal invitation cards in the name of Lalu Prasad, former CM Rabri Devi, Tejahswi and some other members of the RJD supremo’s family; people from the RJD’s first family especially Tejashwi would attend the ruling party’s Iftar to be held at the Haj Bhawan in the state capital Patna.
“CM Nitish Kumar will be present as the chief guest at the Dawat-E-Iftar at the Haj Bhawan on Thursday,” JD(U) said in the invitation cards sent to Lalu’s family, other political parties and media persons.
JD(U) has also sent invitation letters to some senior RJD leaders like Shivanand Tiwari, state president Jagdanand Singh, former state president Ramchandra Purbey and Shyam Rajak.
As Lalu, who is currently undergoing treatment at the AIIMS-Delhi, is expected to be released from judicial custody on Thursday, he may not be able to reach the state capital by Thursday evening to attend the JD(U)’s Iftar party.
“I have sent a separate invitation card in the name of Lalu Prasad Ji. If he comes to our Iftar party, it would be proverbial “Char Chand Lag Jana” to our programme,” JD(U)’s minority cell president and former deputy chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council Saleem Pervez told reporters on Wednesday. Pervez was earlier in Lalu’s party.
Pervez also said he had sent invitations for the JD(U)’s Iftar to almost all political parties which have presence either in the Vidhan Sabha or the Vidhan Parishad.
Earlier on April 22, former CM Rabri Devi and her son Tejashwi hosted an Iftar party at their residence at 10, Circular Road. Nitish attended the Rabri’s Iftar party. It was after a gap of five years that Nitish had gone to Rabri’s residence to attend a party. Earlier, Nitish had gone to Rabri’s house in January 2017 to join in a Dahi-Chura feast on the Makar Sankranti.
“If Nitish and Tejashri meet at the JD(U)’s Ifatar party on Thursday, it would be their second meeting within six days,” said a JD(U) leader.
Earlier on April 15, Nitish hosted an Iftar party at his official residence at 1, Anne Marg. But no member from Lalu family attended the CM’s iftar. However, Nitish attended the iftar hosted by Rabri on April 22.
