Nitish Kumar's Absence At A Delhi Meet Fuels Talk Of Strain With Ally BJP

Some, like BJP MLA Vinay Bihari, have openly said Nitish Kumar should be removed and replaced as Chief Minister by his deputy Tarkishore Prasad of the BJP.

Nitish Kumar has reportedly decided to skip a meeting of Chief Ministers called by the Union Law Ministry in Delhi on Saturday. The Bihar Chief Minister has, instead, asked his Law Minister to stand in for him.

Nitish Kumar's refusal to join the meeting is being read as a sign that he is upset with ally BJP after recent statements by various leaders appeared to suggest his replacement by a "BJP Chief Minister".  Officially, he is flying to Purnia to launch an ethanol factory.

Some, like BJP MLA Vinay Bihari, have openly said Nitish Kumar should be removed and replaced as Chief Minister by his deputy Tarkishore Prasad of the BJP. Such voices have been getting more and more strident and Nitish Kumar has been struggling to keep up appearances, say his aides.

The strain showed during an Iftar on Wednesday, when the Chief Minister was seen to greet opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD (Rashtriya Jananta Dal) more warmly than deputy Tarkishore Prasad.