Nitish Kumar To Skip Event By Haryana's Chautalas. Here's (Actually) Why

Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala is planning an event to commemorate his father Chaudhary Devi Lal's birth centenary later this month that is being billed as yet another get-together for the "Third Front".

When Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar skips an event later this month hosted by former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala to commemorate his father Chaudhary Devi Lal's birth centenary, his absent note may read one thing but the real reason may be something else. That the Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader won't attend the programme was announced by party national president Lalan Singh in Patna on Saturday citing the possible third wave of COVID-19, the flood situation and the outbreak of viral fever in the state. The actual reason, however, as confirmed by his party members is that he does not want to share the stage with too many anti-BJP leaders at this point as the function on September 25 at Haryana's Jind is being hyped as the coming together of the third front forces. Sources said Mr Kumar does not want to needle the BJP further especially after embarrassing them with publicly demanding an inquiry into the Pegasus snooping scandal and leading a delegation demanding a caste census.