Day after Lalu, Nitish too leaves for Delhi, sparks debate

PATNA: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar left for Delhi on Thursday afternoon. Although the party leaders said the CM has left for the national capital for routine eye check-up, his visit coming close on the heels of RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s tour triggered speculation in the political circles.
“The CM has left for Delhi for routine eye check-up,” party spokesperson Neeraj Kumarsaid.However, his visit triggered speculations in the political circles since it comes barely a day after Lalu left for Delhi for similar reasons.
Although there was no official confirmation about his further plans in Delhi, informed sources said Nitish could meet opposition leaders during his brief stay in the national capital.
“When a leader goes somewhere, something happens,” a JD(U) leader said, wishing not to be identified. The visit took place on a day when the high-pitched poll campaign in Rajasthan for the November 25 assembly elections came to an end.
Much political importance is being attached to Nitish’s visit to Delhi since it comes shortly after the state cabinet notified in Bihar gazette two bills recently passed by the state legislature to raise quota limit for the reserved classes from existing 50 per cent to 65 per cent.
Apart from this, the state cabinet also has passed a resolution seeking for grant of special category status to Bihar and incorporating the hiked quota in the 9th schedule of the Constitution.