In Bihar, it is the season of politics over ‘dahi-chura’. The feast of Makar Sankranti with dahi-chura (curd and flattened rice) and Tilkut which is a traditional festival in Bihar is all set to be celebrated by the state’s political fraternity.
Janata Dal (United) state president Bashishtha Narain Singh is organizing a grand feast at his 36, Hardinge Road residence. There are arrangements for 10,000 people at his residence and invitation had been sent to all people belonging to different strata of society.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav and BJP state president Nityanand Rai are among the invitees who will attend the feast on January 14.
When asked if he has invited RJD or other Grand Alliance partners, Singh replied, “I have come to know there will be no celebration in RJD. He also said there was no need to politicize Makar Sankranti. From different districts eatables are ordered such- chura from West & East Champaran, Bhagalpur and Banka whereas tilkut is set to come from Gaya, Patna city and Sasaram.
Veteran Janata Dal-United leader Bashishtha Narain Singh is known for holding such feasts for the last 10 years to mark Makar Sankranti.
Lok Janashakti Party (LJP) is also in full-fledged preparation to celebrate Makar Sankranti but with an aim to keep atmosphere within the NDA in its favour. In Ram Vilas Paswan’s feast, big names are expected to join with invitations to central leaders. The list of invitees includes names of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Dy CM Sushil Modi, state BJP president Nityanand Rai and all Bihar based ministers in centre and state.
No Makar Sankranti feast by the RJD:
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) will miss out from giving the feast of dahi-chura for the second consecutive year. Party spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said, “All of us were expecting bail to him (Lalu) because of his deteriorating health. Also, others have been granted bail in familiar cases. In fact, he is in jail for more than a year.”
Last year also RJD supremo had skipped Makar Sankranti feast due to his elder sister’s demise and imprisonment. However, his party people will be going to Ranchi with dahi-chura, tilkut, pumpkin and jiggery. “People go there even if they are not allowed to meet Lalu ji. They get satisfaction after reaching there,” said party spokesperson Gagan.
Congress, which is a part of Mahagathbandhan has planned for a dahi-chura feast. It will be hosted by Wazirganj MP Awdhesh Kumar Singh’s at his residence in Patna. Only Congress members have been invited to the feast.
