Lalu, Nitish fail to share dais, but Lalu-Sharad assert unity

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today did not turn up at a rally in which he was to share dais with RJD chief Lalu Prasad, triggering speculation of a logjam in the coming together of JD(U) and RJD ahead of crucial state election.
But, Lalu Prasad and JD(U) president Sharad Yadav shared dais at the rally of Nishad (fishermen) to show a picture of unity between the two parties.
Nitish Kumar, who was scheduled to inaugurate the maharally, today announced cancellation of his programme.
When reporters asked him about skipping the rally in which he was to share dais with Lalu Prasad, Kumar said it was because of his recent eye operation.

"I will not be able to make it to the programme due to laser surgery of my eye. I had informed organisers about it beforehand," Kumar told reporters.
The development has triggered speculation if everything was fine between the two amid suspense prevailing over the fate of merger or alliance between JD(U) and RJD ahead of crucial Bihar poll.

This was the second occasion when the two popularly known as "Bade bhai (Lalu) aur Chote bhai (Nitish)" were supposed to come together at a public platform.
Nitish was absent from a rally of Prajapatis (potters caste) at same Gandhi maidan on April 19 last in which he had to share dais with Lalu Prasad after nearly two decades.

When media-persons asked Lalu Prasad about absence of Nitish at the rally venue, he tried to play it down and said it was because of his eye operation.
Both RJD chief and Sharad Yadav asserted unity between them would be there in the Bihar election and they would together defeat BJP.
Lalu Prasad tried to play "mandal card" and appealed to backward castes to come together again as they had done in early 90s to defeat BJP.
"Mandal forces shall come together to defeat Kamandal (BJP) who took advantage of division among us and came to power on false promises," the RJD chief said at the rally at Gandhi maidan.