Amid Tejashwi crisis in Patna, Nitish meets Rahul in Delhi

Amid speculation over a rift in the 'grand alliance' in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday met Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and is reported to have discussed the current political situation. Kumar drove to Gandhi's Tughlaq Lane residence here and discussed the corruption charges against RJD chief Lalu Prasdad's son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav.

His meeting with Rahul Gandhi comes at a time when there are differences over the continuation of Tejashwi in the state cabinet, thus posing a "threat" to the grand alliance between the JD(U), RJD and Congress in Bihar. While the RJD supremo has rejected demands for the resignation of his son, Kumar is said to have reservations about Tejashwi's continuance as it dents his "anti-corruption" image.

The Kumar-led JD(U) had also crossed swords with the Opposition over its support to NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind in the presidential elections. The Opposition had pitched for Meira Kumar as its joint candidate.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar attended PM Narendra Modi's farewell dinner for outgoing President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday evening. Asked whether this has any political significance, the JD(U) said that Kumar had backed Mukherjee for president in 2012 despite then being in the NDA and shared a "special relationship" with him. The party added that Kumar will also attend Ram Nath Kovind's oath-taking ceremony.