Parties resort to dinner diplomacy ahead of Manjhi's floor test

Patna: Amid the political crisis in Bihar, JD(U), BJP and RJD are hosting dinners for their legislators to keep them together and ensure that they do not go against the party wishes during Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi's floor test on February 20.

"The aim of these dinners and lunches is to foster unity among the legislators before Manjhi takes the majority test on the floor of the Assembly," a senior JD(U) leader said.

The dinner diplomacy was kick-started yesterday evening with a feast thrown by JD U) MLC Vinod Singh at the house of former minister Gautam Singh. Both are considered close to former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who has been re-elected JD(U) Legislature Party leader and has staked claims to the Chief Minister's post.

Apart from Kumar and other JD(U) legislators, senior leaders from allied parties - RJD, Congress and CPI - were seen attending the dinner, signalling the existing bonhomie among them and their support for Kumar.

The series of feasts continued today with parties thrown by RJD Legislature Party leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui in the afternoon and senior JD(U) leader and former minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary in the evening.

Chaudhary was chosen the leader of JD(U) Legislature Party in the Assembly recently.