Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar greets BJP leader LK Advani at the National Integration Council meet
The clear antipathy that
Narendra Modi and Nitish Kumar share has long overshadowed meetings of Chief Ministers in Delhi. But at a key meet on communal harmony today, Mr Modi made news with his absence, while it was Nitish Kumar and BJP veteran LK Advani's bonhomie that dominated photo-ops.
Mr Advani and Mr Kumar greeted each other warmly at the National Integration Council meet called by the Prime Minister to discuss harmony after riots tore through Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, earlier this month.
This was the first meeting of the two leaders after the Bihar Chief Minister ended a 17-year alliance with the BJP in June, hitting out at the party for promoting Mr Modi as its face for the 2014 polls.
Addressing the meet, Mr Kumar said along with good governance and progress, "we will also have to strengthen a culture wherein India's plurality and diversity are vibrantly represented".
The reference to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his development and good governance agenda was unambiguous. As was Mr Kumar's warning that competitive politics was leading to politicians pursuing a "divisive agenda".
Mr Kumar accuses Mr Modi of being a "divisive" leader and questions his secular credentials. He alleges that the Gujarat Chief Minister did not do enough to prevent the communal riots of 2002 that lacerated his state, killing hundreds of Muslims under his watch.
Over a week ago, Mr Advani had sulked publically when Mr Modi was named the BJP's presumptive prime minister. He had skipped a party meet and criticised BJP chief Rajnath Singh for his style of functioning. But the 85-year-old made an equally dramatic turnaround three days later, praising Mr Modi's effusively at a public rally.
Rajnath Singh said today, "Mr Advani is not angry with Mr Modi. He may be angry with me."
Both the BJP and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) underplayed the Nitish Kumar-Advani meet.
"Nitish Kumar respects his elders and seniors," said Sabir Ali of Mr Kumar's Janata Dal United.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who has often been seen as Mr Modi's rival within the party, said, "If two leaders are there...they meet cordially. If Modiji was here, Nitish would have met him the same way as he met Advaniji."
Narendra Modi did not attend today's meeting citing earlier engagements.