Patna: Makar Sankranti celebrations in Bihar, traditionally marked by the festive feast of dahi-chura (curd and flattened rice), have once again become a focal point of political maneuvering and speculation. Across the state, leaders hosted feasts at party offices and private residences, with alliances, tensions, and political gamesmanship taking center stage.
At the residence of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, a dahi-chura feast sparked controversy as RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav declared that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had not been invited and would not be allowed entry to the residence at 10 Circular Road. Tej Pratap’s remarks underscored growing tensions within Bihar’s political landscape.
Misa Bharti, RJD MP and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter, struck a more cautious tone, stating she was unaware of any invitation extended to the Chief Minister. “Politics is a game of speculations. Anything can happen at any time, but it’s too early to comment on any political changes,” she said, adding to the intrigue surrounding the event.
Nitish Kumar’s Dahi-Churma Tour
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, meanwhile, attended a dahi-chura feast hosted by Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan on Tuesday. In an unusual twist, Nitish arrived two hours earlier than the scheduled time of noon, missing Chirag, who was engaged in a special Makar Sankranti puja. The Chief Minister stayed for about 10 minutes, welcomed by senior party leaders in Chirag’s absence.
Chirag later downplayed the missed meeting, stating, “It’s a big deal that the Chief Minister came. We need to respect his busy schedule. I was performing puja at the time, and it wasn’t possible to leave. His visit means a lot.”
The Chief Minister also attended a feast hosted by Bihar minister Ratnesh Sada, continuing his Sankranti outreach.
Alliance Speculations: Lalu Says Yes, Tejashwi Says No
The dahi-chura festivities come against the backdrop of ongoing speculation about alliances in Bihar politics. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav recently hinted at an openness to working with Nitish Kumar again, saying, “If Nitish comes, why won’t we take him along? We’ll work together.”
However, Nitish has repeatedly rejected the idea, dismissing Lalu’s overtures in public statements on January 11 and 12. “Twice I was mistakenly linked with those people. Have they done any work?” he remarked. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav also ruled out an alliance, describing the Chief Minister as “tired” and saying any partnership with him would be akin to “shooting oneself in the foot.”
Feasts Across Political Lines
The Makar Sankranti festivities extended across political lines, with multiple leaders hosting dahi-chura feasts. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha hosted a gathering on January 13, attended by Governor Arif Mohammad Khan and CM Nitish Kumar, among others.
Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP) chief Pashupati Kumar Paras announced his own dahi-chura feast for January 15, extending invitations to both Nitish and Lalu. Paras had earlier met Governor Khan to invite him personally.
Meanwhile, the Congress hosted a feast at its Sadakat Ashram party office for members of the Mahagathbandhan, while BJP state president Dilip Jaiswal held a similar gathering for NDA leaders. Urban Development Minister Nitin Naveen also announced a feast at his residence on January 15.
Exclusion Sparks Reactions
The BJP took note of its exclusion from the Rabri residence feast. State BJP president Dilip Jaiswal remarked, “A feast was organised at Rabri’s residence, but we were not invited. We, on the other hand, invite everyone.”
As dahi-chura plates were shared and alliances whispered about, the Makar Sankranti feasts served as a microcosm of Bihar’s dynamic political arena—where every meal is a statement and every guest list a potential headline.
