Nitish’s ‘iftar’ party today

PATNA: The city is set to witness a series of high-profile political ‘iftar’ parties during the ongoing month of Ramzan. Chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar will organize one at his 1, Aney Marg residence on Tuesday.
According to JD (U) functionaries, a number of netas from the ruling NDA as well as opposition parties are likely to attend Nitish’s ‘iftar’ party.
“The celebrations are expected to be grand because of the landslide victory of the ruling alliance in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls.Arrangements have been made for offering ‘namaz’ in a hall at the CM’s residence,” a state government official told this reporter.
The CM’s deputy Sushil Kumar Modi (SuMo) and BJP national spokesperson Syed Shahnawaz Hussain will also hold an ‘iftar’ party at Madrasa Islamia Shamsul Hoda (opposite Patna Science College) on June 2.
“BJP, LJP and JD (U) legislators as well as workers are invited,” the deputy CM said.
The duo has been organizing ‘iftar’ parties at Anjuman Islamia Hall for two decades. SuMo said, “More than 600 people attend the event every year. Since Anjuman Islamia Hall has been demolished to make way for a multi-storey building, we had to choose a new venue.”
Although the Mahagathbandhan was totally decimated in the parliamentary elections, some allies are throwing ‘iftar’ parties. The Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) will organize a ‘Dawat-e-Iftar’ at party chief Jitan Ram Manjhi’s residence on 12-M Strand Road on June 2.
“I have been organizing ‘iftar’ party for a long time. Election results have nothing to do with it,” Manjhi said.