Bihar:  The Opposition’s allegation that Congress lawmakers are in contact with NDA leaders was strengthened by the six Congress MLAs’ conspicuous absence from the party’s customary “Dahi-Chura” feast on Monday at Sadaqat Ashram in Patna.

Several prominent officials and party workers attended the Congress’s annual “Dahi-Chura” event, which was held at its state headquarters. But the absence of the six current MLAs led to political rumors and chitchat across Bihar.

Congress MLAs missed an official party event for the second time in the last two weeks. Rajesh Ram, the president of the state Congress, called a meeting last week to debate the Center’s proposal to rename MNREGA, but three of the six lawmakers failed to show up. Prominent figures that attended the feast and spoke with party members included former MLC Prem Chandra Mishra, former state president Madan Mohan Jha, and Bihar Congress chairman Rajesh Ram.

In response to questions from the media, Rajesh Ram denied rumors that Congress MLAs were switching sides. “Every one of our lawmakers is still in office. Rumors are being disseminated by political rivals in an effort to confuse and discourage our supporters, he said.

Ram said, “They might have had other engagements,” as an explanation for their absence. No one’s absence at an event indicates that they are dissatisfied with the party leadership. One shouldn’t make hasty judgments. Sanjay Singh, a minister for the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), had earlier said that all Congress MLAs will join the NDA after the conclusion of “Kharmas” on January 14 or 15. “After Kharmas, Congress will suffer a significant blow. He had replied, “Just watch and wait.”

Abhishek Ranjan from Chanpatia, Abidur Rahman from Araria, Md Kamrul Hoda from Kishanganj, Manohar Prasad Singh from Manihari, Surendra Prasad from Valmiki Nagar, and Manoj Biswan from Forbesganj are the six Congress MLAs. Only six of the 61 seats that the Congress ran for in the Bihar Assembly elections were won. In recent memory, the party’s showing in the state assembly elections was the poorest.

Ram Kripal Yadav, a former Union minister and BJP minister, said that a number of RJD MLAs were also in communication with NDA leaders. He informed reporters, “After Kharmas, they will join the ruling alliance.” Mritunjay Tiwari, an RJD spokeswoman, denied the allegations. Every year before Makar Sankranti, such claims are made. There won’t be anything like this,” he said. Tej Pratap Yadav, the estranged eldest son of RJD chairman Lalu Prasad, said that he would throw a “Dahi-Chura” feast on Makar Sankranti.