Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that he would not attend the Samajwadi Party's 25th anniversary revelry in Lucknow on Saturday due to chhat puja celebrations in his state.
"I have personally told Shivpal (Yadav) about this as right now chhat puja is being observed here. When Mulayam Singh Yadav ji called me yesterday, I explained him the reason behind me skipping the event. I would have definitely joined the celebration had the date not clashed with chhat puja," he said.
"I thank the Samajwadi Party for inviting the Janata Dal(United) on the 25th anniversary on Saturday. Our party's senior leader Sharad Yadav will attend the event," he added.
The Bihar Chief Minister's attendance in Lucknow was closely watched by the opposition parties amid speculations that there would be a pre-poll alliance ahead of next year's assembly polls.
Nitish, however, stated that there would not be any pre-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh and expressed hope that the infighting within the Samajwadi Party fold would end soon.
Addressing the media here, Nitish said that Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav would end the ongoing tussle in the party with his rich experience.
Kumar stressed that the meeting between the Samajwadi Party and JD (U) leaders should not be seen as a pre-poll alliance ahead of the polls.
"We also want the Samajwadi Party family tussle should not escalate," he said.
Last week, Samajwadi Party's Uttar Pradesh Party chief Shivpal Yadav had met JD (U) leaders Sharad Yadav and K. C. Tyagi to invite them for his party's anniversary bash.
