The dinner diplomacy in Bihar has drawn a line dividing the supporters of JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. At least three dinner parties were thrown during the last one week which resulted only into widening the gap between the two camps. These parties, incidentally, were thrown by a couple of pro-Nitish Ministers and one MlA.

The latest party on Thursday evening was hosted by JD(U) legislator Arun Manjhi at which Ministers and legislators belonging to Mahadalit castes had been invited. The guests, including Assembly Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary, two Ministers Ramai Ram and Shyam Rajak and about a dozen legislators, reiterated their faith in the leadership of Nitish. Said Rajak, “Nitish Kumar is our undisputed leader. He brought the Mahadalits in the social mainstream. He is our role model for governance. If any amendments are made in his roadmap we will oppose it.” Those present at the dinner also supported Rajak.

Manjhi’s plan to include Paswan caste in the Mahadalit category has caused resentment among the JD(U) leaders of Scheduled Caste. The mobilisation of the legislators of Mahadalit society is seen as a warning to Manjhi in this context. The CM was also not invited at the dinner. When asked host Arun Manjhi said it was a small get together.

Earlier, political dinners had been organised by Food and Consumer Protection Minister Rajak and Cooperative Minister Jai Kumar Singh.

This dinner diplomacy has taken political hue in the backdrop of reports of the possible replacement of CM Manjhi who is seen as a ‘threat’ to the ruling party due to his controversial statements. The Nitish supporters have openly pleaded that Manjhi should be removed and Nitish should come back as CM to save the Government from deviating from the good governance and getting adverse image and the party from disintegration.

The JD(U) rank and file are also worried over the delay in the merger with the RJD despite much publicity. The meeting on merger issue which was scheduled to be held at the residence of Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav in New Delhi on Friday has been abruptly cancelled. The explanation by JD(U) general secretary K C Tyagi that it was cancelled due to Mahatma Gandhi’s death anniversary seemed unconvincing. Nitish who was to go to Delhi to attend the meeting had cancelled his visit on Thursday soon after the RJD chief lalu Prasad apparently stonewalled the merger process by announcing the programme of RJD in March saying he was not bothered who comes to join him.

A JD(U) functionary close to Nitish said the message of merger has percolated down to party workers and further delay in the process would send a negative signal. “It is difficult to say where and what is the hurdle. Our cadres are ready to welcome the merger,” he said. But a JD(U) MlA and former Minister Gautam Singh opposed the move. “I am totally against either alliance with lalu or merger,” he said and added it was his personal view. Transport Minister Ramai Ram ants merger to take place at the earliest.

Bihar JD(U) president Bashistha Narain Singh denied that the merger talks have been put on hold. “Prior to the finalisation of merger the parties are free to carry ahead with their respective programmes. After merger we will hold joint programmes,” he said. Bihar RJD president Ram Chandra Purbe added, “We are committed to contest Assembly election jointly.”