NDA Ally, Snubbed In UP Over Phoolan Devi's Statue, Skips Bihar Meet

Mukesh Sahni and four MLAs of his party skipped the meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and attended by BJP, JD(U), and Hindustani Awam Morcha leaders.

Bihar Minister and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) Chief Mukesh Sahni skipped a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Patna on the first day of the state's monsoon session Monday - a day after he was stopped on his way to install a statue of Phoolan Devi in Varanasi ahead of the UP polls. Mukesh Sahni and four MLAs of his party skipped the meeting which was called after the proceedings of the house were adjourned for the day. Deputy Chief Ministers - Tarkishor Prasad and Renu Devi, President of Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) Jitan Ram Manjhi, and other ministers and legislators of the ruling coalition - BJP and JD(U) - attended the meeting which was chaired by Nitish Kumar When asked about his absence from the NDA meet, Mr Sahni said, "There is nothing like NDA in Bihar. It seems that the National Democratic Alliance in Bihar means JD(U) and BJP only. What is the point in attending a meeting where the views of allies are not heard?" He, however, said it was an internal matter of the coalition and asserted that "Nitish Kumar is our leader and VIP will remain an alliance partner of the NDA."