NDA convenor turns away Nitish, makes quiet exit

He addressed the media after much hesitation and the bitterness clearly came through. 8216;8216;Is politics limited only to the state Assembly? Politics is done at the Centre by travelling around the country,8217;8217; he said, in an oblique reference to the Chief Minister. Fernandes put off a briefing throughout his stay in Patna and this afternoon, took a flight out.

Earlier, his close aide Frederick D8217;Souza had said that he would be leaving by the late evening flight. Though the divide in the party became clear after the clash for the party president8217;s post, senior leaders are still involved in efforts to bring Fernandes around.

At the end of the party8217;s national council meet, Nitish ruled out the possibility of a split. 8216;8216;George Fernandes is our esteemed leader. I met him twice. Though he did not come here, there is no question of a split in the party,8217;8217; he said, addressing the meeting.