In a curious political development, all NDA allies on Tuesday boycotted the human chain programme organised by Union minister of state for human resources development Upendra Kushwaha. The main Opposition RJD, which is led by Lalu Prasad, however, joined the programme, indicating new political re-alignment in Bihar.

Mr Kushwaha who heads the Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP), a key constituent of the NDA, with three Lok Sabha members, through the event sought reforms in the existing education system and appealed to all political parties to support the programme since it is a social issue concerning all.

He had particularly urged the ruling JD-U to support it and reminded how his party had wholeheartedly supported the human chain programme of chief minister Nitish Kumar against dowry and child marriages.

But, the JD-U boycotted the human chain programe. So did the BJP, whose leaders were conspicuous by their absence. The other two NDA constituents in Bihar, the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) led by Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) led by former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, too stayed away from the programme.

Interestingly, the RJD lent its full support to the programme and some top RJD leaders, such as party vice-president Shivanand Tiwary and state president Ram Chandra Purve also shared dais with Mr Kushwaha at the main function organised at the Miller School ground in Patna. The joining of the RJD leaders has dropped ample hints that the RLSP is set to dump NDA soon.

The JD-U cited an altogether different reason behind boycotting the RLSP programme. “The JD-U won’t join any programme which is attended by RJD although we lend our moral support to the party over the issue of academic reforms,” said JD-U spokesman Ajay Alok.

Bihar education minister Krishna Nandan Verma ridiculed the human chain programme of the RLSP, saying, “Instead of forming human chain over the issue of education, the minister should have worked for granting more funds to this sector and giving the same on time,” Mr Verma said.

The RLSP reacted bitterly saying the JD-U would have to face severe consequences for raising questions over the programme. “There will be no government in Bihar without the support of RLSP and those questioning our programme will have to face severe consequences,” warned RLSP’s national working president Nagmani.