New Delhi: Union Ministers Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan have decided to skip a meeting of the union cabinet to be held on Friday evening.
The two allies of the UPA are reportedly upset over AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi’s praise of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of the JD(U) as also Congress’ not-so-discreet efforts at reaching out to him.
Rahul Gandhi had praised Nitish Kumar saying he's done a good job as Bihar CM.
Lalu and Paswan reportedly trashed Nitish's track record as CM immediately after Rahul’s statement, following which Paswan left for Kolkata where he's expected to address a rally.
As for Congress, the party doesn’t seem to care too much for the sulking duo. Spokesperson Veerappa Moily says except the RJD and the LJP chiefs, all UPA allies are together.
“Congress will emerge as the single largest party with greater strength. As far as the UPA is concerned, except for Lalu and Paswan, the rest of the partners are there with Cong,” he said.
But it's not just the Congress, even the Left seems to be wooing Nitish. West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said, “Bihar CM Nitish Kumar will come with us. We are in touch with him”.
CPI (M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury also agreed with Bhattacharjee, saying it's natural for the West Bengal CM to interact with other chief ministers, as the Left is keen to see a a non-Congress, non-BJP government at the centre.
“Nitish Kumar, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, Naveen Patnaik are all CMs and it’s natural for them to meet and talk. What we are working for is a non-Congress, non-BJP formation. We are already appealing to the secular forces to come together,” he said.
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