Bihar CM Nitish Kumar plays down meeting with PM Modi

Analysts say since RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Misha Bharati's land dealings are under the radar Nitish Kumar wants to distance himself with the present coalition partner in Bihar.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday denied reports of political significance attached to his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Nitish Kumar met PM Modi at a luncheon hosted in honor of Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.

Talking to the media after the meeting, he said 'Issue of silt in Ganga is getting serious, there is a danger of flood. I thought I should meet PM on this issue separately.'

The JD(U) president told reporters after the meeting that "too much was being read into" the meeting which, he insisted, was a usual interaction between the prime minister and a chief minister. "I did not meet him in the capacity of the JD(U) chief but as the state chief minister. It was not a political meeting. Why is the media reading too much into it?" he said. He also did not take questions from journalists about allegations of corruption against his ally-- RJD chief Lalu Prasad-- and his family members. There are allegations and counter allegations, he said, claiming that he responded only to "facts."

Earlier, JD (U) leader Pavan Verma, said, 'As far as meeting with PM Modi is concerned, Nitish Kumar has come on an official invitation.' He denied any political significance attached to the meeting.

Nitish Kumar's meeting with the Prime Minister comes when speculations are rife about realignments in Bihar. The speculation gained credence since Nitish Kumar skipped Sonia Gandhi's luncheon meeting held Friday afternoon in which leaders of 17 political parties participated.

However, Janata Dal (United) national President Shard Yadav had said Nitish Kumar would not take part in the meeting called by Sonia Gandhi as he busy in government programmes. Shard Yadav himself attended the meeting on behalf of Nitish Kumar.

But, political pundits think the other way around about Nitish Kunar's meeting with the PM Modi. Analysts say since RJD Chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Misha Bharati's land dealings are under the I-T radar Nitish Kumar wants to distance himself with the present coalition partner in Bihar.

(With agency inputs)