Nitish Kumar reacts to his frequent absence at meetings chaired by PM Modi

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday sought to downplay his frequent absence at meetings chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it was 'nothing unusual'. Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav will attend the National Ganga Council meeting, scheduled to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in Kolkata on December 30. Tejashwi Yadav is heading the state urban development department, under which the Namami Gange project comes.

"There is nothing unusual in this. Please remember that when the last time National Ganga Council (NGC) meeting was chaired by the PM in Uttar Pradesh, it was not me but the then deputy chief minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi, who also held the portfolio concerned, had gone to attend the meeting.

"This time again my current deputy (Tejashwi Yadav), holding the urban development portfolio, will attend this meeting", the chief minister said.

The remark was made in reply to questions from journalists who sought his views on his decision not to attend the NGC on December 30.

Earlier, Kumar had skipped the all-party meeting convened by the Prime Minister on December 5 to seek support from all political parties on the role to be played by India to make the country's G20 presidency a big success. The meeting was attended by several chief ministers, Union ministers and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

However, Kumar attended the virtual meeting called by the PM to discuss aspects relating to India's G20 Presidency on December 9.

The Bihar chief minister had also not attended the Eastern Zonal Council meeting chaired by Union Home minister Amit Shah in Kolkata on December 17. Tejashwi Yadav had represented the state.