Patna: Bihar’s Makar Sankranti tradition of Dahi-Chura feasts doubled as a political signalling exercise on Thursday, as chief minister Nitish Kumar moved between events hosted by rival power centres, prompting fresh speculation about equations within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
CM first attended the Dahi-Chura gathering at the office of union minister Chirag Paswan, where he greeted party workers and the media. His appearance was widely read as an effort to project coordination within the NDA amid murmurs of unease. Senior leaders and cadres from Paswan’s party were present.
Later, the chief minister paid a brief visit—lasting about five minutes—to the residence of Janata Dal (United) MLA Chetan Anand, the son of former MP Anand Mohan. JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha and PHED minister Sanjay Kumar accompanied CM Nitish.
Anand said the chief minister had taken time out of a busy schedule to offer his blessings, adding that invitations to the feast had gone out to leaders from both the NDA and the opposition. Asked about cabinet expansion ahead of the assembly session, Anand struck a cautious note, saying decisions would be taken “as per circumstances”—a comment seen by observers as a careful balancing act.
The outreach comes against the backdrop of CM’s role in securing the release of Anand Mohan, after which Chetan Anand backed the chief minister during a crucial floor test, dealing a setback to the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Since then, the relationship between the family and the chief minister has been viewed as notably closer.
The day’s political choreography extended beyond the NDA. On January 14, leaders including Lalu Prasad and Governor Arif Mohammad Khan attended a Dahi-Chura feast at the residence of Tej Pratap Yadav, where Lalu publicly played down reports of a rift with his son. Another gathering at former minister Ratnesh Sada’s home was attended by CM Nitish, the governor and senior NDA figures.
Taken together, the feasts offered more than festive fare. They provided a snapshot of shifting alignments, tested alliances and quiet negotiations that continue to shape Bihar’s politics—underscoring how, on Sankranti, Dahi-Chura often speaks a language far beyond food.
