BJP-JD(U) At Dead End? Nitish Skipped PM-Led Niti Aayog Meet, 'Dialled Sonia Gandhi'

Buzz over tension between allies BJP and JD(U) has gained momentum with Nitish Kumar skipping another central event on Sunday, Aug 7. (File photo: PTI)

By skipping the Niti Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, Bihar chief minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar has steered clear of invites by the BJP-led Union government for the fourth time now since July 17, adding fuel to the buzz over tension between allies.

Nitish Kumar on Sunday skipped the Niti Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi which saw chief ministers of other states in attendance. While there was no official word on the reason behind Kumar’s absence, sources close to him said that he skipped the meeting citing post-Covid debility. The septuagenarian had tested positive on July 25.

Sources privy to the developments told News18 that Nitish Kumar had dialled Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday and has sought time to meet her.

Last month, Nitish Kumar had skipped the oath-taking ceremony of NDA pick President Droupadi Murmu. Before that, on July 17, Kumar gave a miss to a meeting of chief ministers called by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss issues related to the national flag and deputed BJP’s Tarkishor Prasad instead.

He snubbed the BJP again when he skipped a dinner for outgoing President Ram Nath Kovind, hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the oath-taking ceremony of seven newly elected members of the legislative council.

Nitish Calls Party Meet on Tuesday After Giving PM-Led Event a Miss

The JD(U) has called a parliamentary meeting of all its MPs, MLAs and MLCs on Tuesday amid a buzz of a conflict with its partner, the BJP. Informing about the meeting, senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi, however, said that there’s not much to read into it. “There will be a party parliamentary meeting on Tuesday in which all MPs, MLAs and MLCs will participate. This is a regular meeting. Please don’t read too much,” Tyagi said.

Meanwhile, Top JD(U) sources have told News18 that the alliance with BJP is “at dead end”, adding that the meeting called by CM Nitish Kumar is crucial.

Source: https://www.news18.com/news/politics/bjp-jdu-alliance-at-dead-end-nitishs-key-party-meet-today-a-day-after-skipping-another-central-event-5708413.html