Patna, Jan. 21: Years ago Lalu Prasad had wondered ' Yeh IT-YT kya hota hai'. Today, leaders of the JDU, which is growing closer to the RJD by the day, wondered what social media means.

They asked the question at the end of a two-day training programme organised for them at former chief minister Nitish Kumar's 7 Circular Road official residence.

The idea was to help party cadres counter the attack from the BJP. Unlike the JDU, BJP leaders use Facebook and Twitter to reach out to people. Its leaders share not just news and developments, but also their own writings.

At the training programme, experts told JDU leaders how computers, tablets and smart phones were great tools to connect, particularly with the youth. They were taught how to use email and social networks to promote the party's agenda for Assembly polls scheduled in October-November and also how to use Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp to gain an edge over rivals.

But clearly, the lessons seem to have bounced over their heads. Many appeared confused. And when the session ended, a JDU leader surprised the experts by asking the meaning of social media.

'I have heard about Facebook and Twitter, but what is social media? Since the beginning you have been preaching us about websites but I don't get the meaning of social media,' he reportedly asked at the closed-door session.

He was not alone. Many JDU leaders felt the session was a wastage of time. They felt this was time for the party to focus on strengthening the organisation for a real fight instead of learning lessons in the virtual world.

Interestingly, even Nitish had equated Twitter with chirping of birds (' cheche-cheche') before finally succumbing to it, though he is more active on Facebook.

'We should instead have been taught how to defend and justify our stand of being with Lalu Prasad, who was always at the centre of Nitishji's attacks,' a party leader said on condition of anonymity.

Another leader said: 'This is an election year. The party should focus on leadership and the elections. We do not need such lessons at this juncture when the party is facing many a conflict from within.'

Today's session began at 10.30 am and ended at 4.30 pm. Nitish turned up at the end to tell cadres they should implement what they learnt in their constituencies.

The JDU leaders were also given an envelope with printed material to brief them about booth management. It also contained four pages of socialist leader late Ram Manohar Lohia's speech describing the difference between Hinduism and fundamentalism.

Senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi attacked Nitish over the traning programme. He said: 'People are killed and displaced in Muzaffapur and Nitish is holding a training programme on socialism. He does not have time to visit the affected village.'