Amid the growing political uncertainty in Bihar over JD(U) chief and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's rumoured plan to go back into the NDA fold, RJD leader and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav called a meeting of his party's top leadership, ostensibly to discuss the current crisis.
Yadav was conspicuous by his absence at the high tea ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan on the occasion of the Republic Day, attended by CM Kumar and other ministers.
At the event, the seat next to that of Kumar was occupied by senior JD(U) leader and minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary who removed the slip said to be bearing the name of Yadav before occupying the chair.
Though education minister Alok Kumar Mehta, who is also a national general secretary of the RJD, was among the attendees, Yadav and many other party leaders, including Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, skipped the meeting.
This comes, even as the RJD gave an ultimatum to the JD(U) to clear air on the political crisis brewing in the state.
When asked about Yadav's absence, Kumar said, "Ask those who did not come."
Minister and JDU) leader Ashok Choudhary too was asked about Yadav's absence. He responded saying, "How can I answer about this, only they can answer..."
Speculations are rife that Kumar was unhappy with the Mahagathbandhan, which includes the Congress and the RJD with three Left parties supporting the government from outside, even as JD(U) maintained that it is firmly with INDIA bloc.