Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday disclosed that he has asked his deputy Tejashwi Yadav and president of his Janata Dal (United) (JDU) Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan to attend an event to be hosted by Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao. The JD(U) leader, however, insisted that this would not cast a shadow on his partnership with the Congress which KCR, as the Telangana Chief Minister is popularly known, views as his principal rival.
"He (KCR) wanted me to attend his function. When I excused myself citing pressing engagements back home, he requested that I depute someone from the party. So I have asked Lalan," Mr Kumar told reporters in Kaimur district which he visited as part of 'Samadhan Yatra'.
Mr Kumar also said that KCR had also asked him to put in a word with Mr Yadav, who belongs to the RJD.
"I assured him that I would do the needful but he should also speak to the Deputy Chief Minister. Both of them (Lalan and Tejashwi) will be going to Hyderabad," said the Bihar Chief Minister.
The Telangana Chief Minister, who had held a meeting of opposition leaders earlier this month, is planning another grand event in the second week of February when a function will be held for inauguration of a new secretariat building, followed by a public meeting.
Mr Kumar's absence at the previous event had raised many eyebrows but he later clarified that he was neither invited nor in a position to go out of the state.
The JD(U) boss also dismissed suggestions that cosying up to KCR, a votary of a non-Congress, non-BJP front amounted to his giving up the idea of a "united opposition" which would include the grand old party to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections.
"I have said it before that I am waiting for their (Bharat Jodo) Yatra to conclude after which various parties would sit together and explore the possibility of forming a coalition that could take along as many people as possible", the JD(U) leader said.
He also pointed out that he had done his bit to set the ball in motion soon after calling off the alliance with BJP and joining the 'Mahagathbandhan', by visiting Delhi and holding talks with leaders of various parties.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
20 Die In Bihar After Drinking Toxic Liquor, Opposition Targets Nitish Kumar No Realignment With Nitish Kumar, "His Time Is Up": Tejashwi Yadav Report Claims Sunrisers Hyderabad's Retention Plan Includes Rs 18 Crore For Pat Cummins, Rs 23 Crore For.... MK Stalin Asks Centre To Recall Tamil Nadu Governor In Row Over Anthem Drone Footage Of Hamas Chief Yahya Sinwar's Last Moments Released By Israel Tamil Nadu Police's Counter Petition In Supreme Court Against Sadhguru Harris, Trump Barnstorm Key State Michigan, Where Polls Say They're Tied 2 Brothers Found Dead Amid Rituals In Chhattisgarh: Cops Israel And Iran-Backed Foes Hamas And Hezbollah Vow More War Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.