Nitish sounds out party MLAs, MPs on merger

Kumar interacted at his 7 Circular Road residence with MLAs, MPs and other party leaders of three districts – West Champaran, East Champaran and Bagha – and sought their feedback on the prevailing situation.

He was scheduled to have similar interactions in the second session in the evening with MLAs, MPs and other leaders of Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi and Sheohar, JD(U) spokesman Neeraj Kumar said.

The exercise would continue till June 17, he said.

Speculation is making rounds in the corridors of power that Kumar's interaction with Legislators, Parliamentarians and party office bearers district-wise might be to gather information about a situation without RJD.

Despite the fact that Kumar and RJD president Lalu Prasad live near each <g data-gr-id="35">other</g> there is no meeting between them to end the deadlock on <g data-gr-id="34">tie-up</g> between them.

Prasad's confidante and RJD Legislative Council member Bhola Yadav on Wednesday met the Chief Minister. Yadav, however, refused to divulge details of his meeting with Kumar to <g data-gr-id="33">mediapersons</g>.

RJD vice-president <g data-gr-id="42">Raghubansh</g> Prasad Singh, whose assertions against declaring Kumar as the Chief Ministerial candidate of the alliance was <g data-gr-id="43">retorted</g> strongly by state minister Shyam Rajak who called him on being payroll of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Wednesday said the leadership and other issues could be sorted out only when the prominent leaders of the two parties talk over them.

Singh was perturbed over Rajak comments against him.

Talking to <g data-gr-id="41">mediapersons</g>, Singh appealed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to intervene to hammer out a solution and give shape to <g data-gr-id="40">anti-BJP</g> alliance in Bihar. After state JD(U) president Basistha Narayan Singh made it clear that for his party no name other than Nitish Kumar was acceptable for coming state polls, many other party MLAs spoke on similar lines.

MLA from Madhuban in East Champaran district <g data-gr-id="31">Shivji</g> Rai said for them Nitish Kumar was the leader under whose leadership they will fight the polls.