The display of bonhomie by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and the leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav – whom the former had several times publicly called his successor – in Raj Bhawan on January 2 on the occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of the new Bihar governor, Arif Mohammad Khan, is perhaps a pointer to the fact that something unusual is in the offing.

The timing of this gesture is significant because just a day ago, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav hinted that the door for Nitish is still open. This statement came a couple of weeks after his son Tejashwi told mediapersons that the door is closed for ‘chacha’ (uncle).

Still, given the more than 50-year-long relationship between Lalu and Nitish is so complex and filled with love and hate, nothing can be ruled out.

No, this does not mean that the RJD and Janata Dal (United) (JD(U)) are joining hands again. On January 4, while addressing a meeting during his Pragati Yatra in Gopalganj, the chief minister once again clarified that he had made the mistake of forming government with RJD twice and is not going to repeat it.

However, what he left unsaid is more important.

A hand on the shoulder

Politicians like Nitish Kumar are known for sending subtle messages. The way he put his hand on the shoulder of Tejashwi when the latter said........

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