Last Friday, Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad organised an iftar party in Patna. Hosted at the official bungalow allotted to Yadav's elder son and Bihar health minister Tej Pratap Yadav, the party was attended by many prominent leaders of the state, irrespective of their political affiliations.
State Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his protege-turned-rival Jitan Ram Manjhi sat next to each other, drawing hushed comments from some others in attendance. Both underplayed the issue. "It's a social occasion," said Kumar; don't see it "through political glasses", urged Manjhi.
