Nitish Kumar to skip Samajwadi Party's anniversary bash

Uses Chatth Puja as excuse to stay away; expressed displeasure over on-going internal dispute in SP

Janata Dal (United) President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will not attend the silver jubilee celebrations on Uttar Pradesh's ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) in Lucknow on November 5. He also expressed his displeasure over the on-going internal dispute in the SP.

Last week, SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's younger brother and Uttar Pradesh Party Chief Shivpal Yadav had met JD (U) leaders Sharad Yadav and K C Tyagi to invite them to the anniversary bash over the weekend.

Asked whether or not he would attend ceremony, Kumar cited the Chatth Puja. Emerging from a government function, Kumar said, "There was a invitation from Shivpal ji to our party leaders. However, I would be busy in performing Chhatth Puja with my family. Therefore it will not be possible for me to go out of town over the weekend." Chief Minister ducked the question regarding who will attend the function on his behalf. "It's not decided yet. We will consider about it and then take a decision soon."

"We have always been in favour of a united front. We initiated the process of merger of six breakaway factions of former Janata Dal and even declared Mulayam Singh ji as our leader. But that effort didn't take-off. It doesn't mean that it will not take-off later in future," he said.

He, however, showed displeasure over the current internal dispute in the first family of the SP. "The SP is having an internal dispute right now and we don't want to be a part of it. We wish that the family will be able to solve its problems."

When asked whether his party will be a part of Grand Alliance in UP, Kumar said, "It's not a Grand Alliance because there is no hope that SP and BSP will come together. Therefore at best it's an alliance. Congress has not spoken to us, yet. There have been no talks with SP regarding the matter."