Published 15:50 IST, October 9th 2019
Patna: BJP leaders miss Ravan Dahan event attended by CM Nitish Kumar
However, BJP leaders kept a distance from Ravana Dahan's program in Patna's Gandhi Maidan where CM Nitish Kumar was the Chief Minister.
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Ravan Dahan took place on Tuesday evening (October 8), marking the end of Dussehra at the historic Gandhi Maidan in the capital Patna. Millions of people reached Gandhi Maidan to see the symbolic burning of "evil"- Ravana. The entire Gandhi Maidan was filled with people. However, BJP leaders kept a distance from Ravana Dahan's program. BJP leaders did not reach the ground. The chairs for him remained empty. Senior BJP leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and others gave a miss to Dusshera celebrations at Patna's iconic Gandhi Maidan, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was the chief guest.
As the Chair for the deputy Chief Minister stayed empty, it fuelled rumours in the state's political circles about the alliance partners. Other than Deputy Chief Minister Modi, many BJP MLA, BJP ministers were missing. The official release from the state government said that assembly speaker Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, senior bureaucrats, Patna District Magistrate and other officials were present during the celebrations at the Gandhi maidan.
The BJP leaders giving a miss to this key Dussehra event comes days after a war of words erupted between BJP and JDU leaders following the flood situation in Patna. Earlier this month, Giriraj Singh opined the state administration is responsible for the 'mismanagement' of the flood situation in the capital city and that the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar "should take responsibility for it".
Speaking to ANI, JDU General Secretary and National Spokesperson Pavan Verma said,
"Whether Giriraj Singh's periodic rants against Nitish Kumar and the NDA government are emanating from the frustration of the individual or he is merely voicing the opinion of the mainstream BJP, must be clarified by the BJP."
Nitish Kumar performed Aarti
Some portion of Ramlila was staged at Gandhi Maidan before the Ravana slaughter. Here Lord Hanuman burnt Lanka. Earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar performed the aarti of Lord Ram and Laxman and garlanded him. There was also water logging in Gandhi Maidan, due to which there was moisture in the ground. Due to this moisture, on Monday, the effigy of Ravana first bowed and then fell in the night.
(With Inputs from ANI)
22:27 IST, October 8th 2019