No to neera

At the Udyami Panchayat, participants were given a free serving of neera (fresh toddy sap). Chief minister Nitish Kumar, however, refused it saying he was full after a dosa and did not feel like drinking neera.

"The day Nitish Kumar enforced total prohibition in Bihar, he went gaga over the health benefits of neera. Today he is refusing to drink. He should set an example," said one of the participants who was not enthused over setting up a neera bottling plant.

The participant said the number of investors had plummeted after total prohibition: "Investment in Bihar has become a joke and the CM's proposal to make neera a business venture is also taken with a pinch of salt."

JDU pat for Sushil

Once it became clear that former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi would not be going to the Rajya Sabha, the JDU suddenly developed love for him - calling him the most deserving candidate to go to Delhi. Even Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad congratulated him.

"But Sushilji said he would not leave the Grand Alliance government in peace," said a BJP MLA, pointing out that the ruling coalition had hoped Sushil would go to Delhi and spare them.

"But it remains a fact that Sushil Modi is the tallest BJP leader here," said a JDU leader. "After all, both Nitish and Lalu have known him personally right from the JP movement days in the 1970s. It is natural that they should wish well for him."

The two dons

The police headquarters are buzzing with the talk of the "meeting" of two dons - former RJD MP Md Shahabuddin and former MLA Pappu Dev, a don-turned politician from Saharsa - in Bhagalpur jail. "We have reports that the two had long talks and supporters of Shahabuddin who came to meet him are told to make preparations for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls," said an official, stressing that it was yet to be assessed how the meeting of the two dons would work out.

"But dons who have been known to be bitter foes have become allies in the past," he added, recalling how Pappu Yadav and Anand Mohan Singh became allies for political convenience.

Fluke win

Former BJP MLA Binod Narayan Jha must have heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday when the Grand Alliance did not field a sixth candidate for the Legislative Council and he got a walkover.

The previous day, the RJD chief, Lalu Prasad, kept Jha guessing when asked if the RJD would field another candidate.

"I will think over it tonight," Lalu had told journalists much to the discomfort of the BJP.

On Tuesday, when the sixth candidate did not turn up, Jha was relieved as a contest would have meant a close call.

"Jha has won the election by fluke," quipped an RJD MLA.