When Bihar's Modi and Nitish Kumar came face-to-face

Patna: President Pranab Mukherjee, who was in Bihar today to attend a convocation ceremony of IIT Patna, was received by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at the city's airport.

Along with the Chief Minister, were a line of state ministers and dignitaries, one of them being BJP leader and Mr Kumar's former deputy Sushil Kumar Modi. After Mr Kumar's Janata Dal (United) ended its 17-year-old alliance with the BJP in June, Mr Modi and the Bihar Chief Minister have constantly targeted each other.

Mr Modi and his party recently had accused the state government of attempting to sabotage Narendra Modi's 'Hunkar Rally' to be held in Patna on Sunday by inviting the President at the same time. President Pranab Mukherjee, after a request by BJP leaders in Delhi, cut short his Bihar trip by a day to avoid a clash of dates.

However, no ugly jibes were exchanged at the airport today. As the President met Bihar's Modi at the airport, Mr Kumar remarked, "his role has reversed now."  

Mr Modi also has an old association with Mr Mukherjee. The Bihar leader was appointed as the chairman of the empowered committee of state finance ministers on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) when Mr Mukherjee was the Union Finance Minister.