First sign of cracks in Bihar grand alliance; Tejashwi Yadav skips key event attended by CM Nitish Kumar

Patna: There seems to be no end to the ongoing rift in Bihar's ruling 'mahagathbandhan'. 

In the latest development, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav's nameplate was on Saturday removed from the invitation of a key event hosted by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar government. 

Patna: Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav will not attend a 'Vishwa Yuva Kaushal Divas' event. His name was mentioned in the invitation. pic.twitter.com/dHLVgPffPH — ANI (@ANI_news) July 15, 2017

Patna: Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav's name plate covered, later removed, in an event to be attended by CM Nitish Kumar. pic.twitter.com/cmvbJkWzXf — ANI (@ANI_news) July 15, 2017

As per media report, Tejashwi was reportedly invited to attend and share the dias with JD(U) chief and CM Nitish Kumar at Vishwa Yuva Kaushal Diwas event in Patna. 

A chair with Tejashwi’s nameplate was placed on the dais in the morning. However, his nameplate was first covered and later removed just before the start of the function.

The development gave a clear indication of the widening rift between the grand alliance partners in Bihar, Nitish and Tejashwi as they both avoided sharing the stage together. 

The two leaders had met a few days back during the cabinet meeting after which Tejashwi's security guards had allegedly misbehaved with the media persons.

Ahead of the function, JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi indirectly advised Tejashwi Yadav to resign by pointing out that Nitish himself had resigned in the past when he faced a similar situation.

On Friday, RJD chief Lalu Prasad came out in defence of his tainted minister son and made it clear that the latter will not resign from his post over graft charges. Lalu also claimed that the state's ruling grand alliance is intact.

"Tejashwi will not resign. There is no question of his resignation," Lalu said after holding a nearly three-hour-long meeting with senior party leaders and legislators at his official residence.

He said the RJD was going by the decision of its legislature party, which met earlier this week and decided that Tejashwi Yadav would not resign.