CPI defends Kanhaiya’s meeting with JD(U) min

PATNA: The central office of the CPI on Tuesday denied any political move behind its leader and former JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar’s meeting with Bihar’s building construction minister Ashok Choudhary.

In a statement, CPI’s central office secretary Roykutty said, “A section of newspapers carried a news item about Kanhaiya Kumar’s possibility to join JD(U) after meeting with minister Ashok Choudhary in Bihar. The news is absolutely baseless. Kanhaiya Kumar met him along with Suryakant Paswan, a CPI MLA, to discuss some people’s issues and development works in his (Paswan’s) assembly constituency.”

When contacted, Paswan, however, told TOI on Tuesday that he had met CM Nitish Kumar on February 13 (Saturday) evening at his residence where Choudhary was also present.

Paswan denied meeting Choudhary along with Kanhaiya. “Kanhaiya may have met Choudhary separately. I have no idea about their meeting,” Paswan said over phone.

Giving the reason behind his meeting with the CM, Paswan said it was to request Nitish to open a degree college at Bakhri, a sub-divisional headquarters in Begusarai district. Paswan, a first-time MLA, represents Bakhri assembly constituency.

“The CM had earlier announced that all sub-divisional headquarters will have a degree college. But Bakhri still do not have a degree college. Besides, I also drew his attention for opening a university in Begusarai district in the name of great poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar. Other issues of my areas were also discussed during the meeting,” Paswan said and asked, “Is it wrong if an MLA calls on the CM to raise the issue of his constituency?”

Paswan, however, repeatedly denied his meeting with Choudhary along with Kanhaiya.

Earlier on Monday, many eyebrows were raised in the state’s political circles after a news came out about Kanhaiya’s meeting with Choudhary, a key aide of Nitish.

Recently, Choudhary played a key role in the switchover of lone BSP MLA Zama Khan to the JD(U) and getting the support of independent legislator Sumit Kumar Singh. Both Khan and Singh were inducted into the Nitish cabinet weeks after they announced their support to JD(U) at a press conference held at the residence of Choudhary.