Nitish's dinner invite divides Bihar BJP

A dinner invitation for Monday night sent out by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for members of both houses of the Bihar legislature seems to have divided the opposition state BJP -- one group ready to attend and another favouring giving it a go-by.

While Leader of Opposition Prem Kumar and senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav said no to dinner diplomacy, former Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi made it clear that he will attend the dinner at the Chief Minister's official residence here.

It was learnt that Sushil Kumar Modi and over a dozen BJP legislators will attend.

Initially, the BJP decided that all its Bihar legislators will attend the dinner, while recalling with anguish how Nitish Kumar had withdrawn a dinner invite for BJP leaders in 2010 during the party's National Executive meet attended by the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and party veteran L.K. Advani here.

Prem Kumar told the media he will not attend the dinner to protest against lathicharge on agitating contractual teachers and Asha workers and others during the ongoing assembly session.

"I have decided to not attend the dinner to protest ruthless dealing with agitating teachers and others," he said.

Former minister Nand Kishore Yadav also announced he will not attend the dinner.

"BJP legislators close to Prem Kumar and Yadav may boycott the dinner," a BJP leader close to Yadav said.

--IANS

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