Nitish, Arun Jaitley meet after ad controversy

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today met Arun Jaitley and other BJP leaders at party's state unit chief C P Thakur's residence here in a bid to repair the strain in the coalition following publication of an advertisement.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday met Arun Jaitley and other BJP leaders at party's state unit chief C P Thakur's residence here in a bid to repair the strain in the coalition following publication of an advertisement.

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Kumar held discussions with the top BJP leadership comprising Jaitley, the central in-charge of the state unit Ananth Kumar, his Deputy Dharmendra Pradhan, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and others for over two hours.

The leaders of the two coalition partners cleared the air of contention that engulfed them following the advertisement controversy, a senior BJP leader said.

"They met in a cordial atmosphere with a purpose to end all confusion rocked the coalition in the past two months," a senior BJP leader said, adding, the meeting is significant before assembly polls due later this year.

Both parties pledged to continue their alliance at both national and state level and discussed joint poll strategies and seat sharing formula between them for the coming assembly polls in Bihar, sources said.

Evading mediapersons gathered at Thakur's residence, Nitish Kumar headed for airport to visit Saharsa to attend jailed politician Anand Mohan's niece's marriage at Panchgachia.

Jaitley described the meeting as a "social meeting" and refused to elaborate on the issues been discussed.

Last Month, Bihar Chief Minister and ally JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar had taken strong exception to an advertisement featuring him with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and another on Gujarat's aid to Bihar after the 2008 Kosi floods.