A Rare Picture During Bihar Poll: Rivals Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan, Tejashwi Yadav In Shradha Ritual Of LJP Founder

Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sat with his biggest critics, Chirag Paswan and Tejashwi Yadav, delivering a rare image for the cameras in poll season. Setting aside their political differences, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and Union minister Nityanand Rai attended the shradha ritual of LJP founder Ram Vilas Paswan who was a long-time political associate of Nitish Kumar and a key BJP ally, died on October 8.

Chirag had on Monday performed the shradha ritual of his father at his Sahabanni village in Khagaria district. The Brahm-bhoj as part of the shradha ritual was organised at the LJP’s state headquarter in Patna. This is the first time the Chief Minister was seen speaking to Chirag Paswan. The Chief Minister accepted a laddu (sweet) and met the deceased leader’s wife.

Chirag Paswan had alleged that when his father’s body arrived at Patna airport, the Chief Minister had not acknowledged him even when he touched his feet. He had earlier also complained to the BJP leadership that Nitish Kumar had “insulted” his father and had not said a word to either him or his mother on Paswan senior’s health. On Tuesday, Chirag Paswan’s office said he touched Nitish Kumar’s feet again and took his blessings.

A video of Nitish Kumar, Chirag Paswan and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav sitting together was widely shared online