Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar attended the high tea ceremony at the Raj Bhavan on Republic Day, while his deputy Tejashwi Yadav of the RJD was absent. Speculations arise regarding a possible rift in the ruling Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. Kumar's seat was occupied by senior JD(U) leader Ashok Kumar Choudhary. The event was attended by education minister Alok Kumar Mehta, but many RJD leaders, including Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, did not show up.
