Political parties in overdrive for Makar Sankranti feast

PATNA: With Makar Sankranti round the corner, leaders and political parties are gearing up for 'Chura-Dahi' feast. Preparations are on in full swing and delicacies from different parts of the state are being brought to serve to the guests.
Even at the 10, Circular Road bungalow, where ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has called for a lavish feast on Saturday, arrangements for a get-together is under way on a war footing. RJD national general secretary Bhola Yadav, who is looking after the arrangements, said people cutting across the party lines have been invited. Bhola said the party is organising this gala feast after three years and for the first time it will be hosted by deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, as per the instructions of his father Lalu Prasad, who is recovering from kidney transplant in Singapore.
Bhola said arrangements have been made for nearly 15,000 people, who will be served varieties of chura and home-made curd. "Be it the famous mirchyya chura of Bettiah, or katarni chura of Bhagalpur, guests will be served the best. We have got tilkut from Gaya, while curd is being brought from Danapur, Raghopur, Mahua and Fatuha. All legislators and party members are volunteering to serve the guests," he said.
Bhola said they have already procured nearly 40 quintals of chura and 30 quintals of tilkut (made of both sugar as well as jaggery) for the feast.
Preparations are also going on at the official residence of JD(U)'s national parliamentary board chairman and party MLC Upendra Kushwaha, who, too, has extended invites to people cutting across the party lines. Former RLSP national spokesperson and JD(U) leader Fazal Imam Mallick said the feast will start from 10 am and continue till late afternoon. Arrangements have been made for nearly 20,000 people. "Everything related to the preparations is almost over," Mallick said.
When asked about the reason to hold the feast on the same day as the RJD, Mallick said, "We had decided log back. Also, this 'Chura-Dahi' feast should not be looked from the political prism. There is no fixed time and people can enjoy at both the places."
Opposition parties are also busy planning for the feast. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has called for a feast at his Shri Krishna Puri residence on Sunday. Leader of opposition in state assembly, Vijay Kumar Sinha has called for a feast on Friday. BJP's state media-in-charge Ashok Bhatt said it will start from 1 pm and continue till evening.