The JDU on Wednesday tied itself in knots trying to explain how the Gujarat government's Rs 5 crore donation for flood victims this year is different from the Rs 5 crore donation in 2010 that had made chief minister Nitish Kumar see red, and the RJD could barely hide its glee at the discomfiture.

Gujarat revenue minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama is coming to Patna on Thursday to hand over the cheque to Nitish for Rs 5 crore, the same amount that a certain Narendra Modi had offered to Nitish in 2010 with much fanfare - at which Nitish had rebuffed the cheque and scrapped a dinner he had invited the BJP brass to.

'2010 was different,' JDU spokesperson Ajay Alok declared. 'It was another atmosphere. Political decisions are not wrong. It is just a matter of time...' The Gujarat government, Ajay insisted, had shown sensitivity in helping Bihar. Many more states were aiding Bihar for flood relief work, he added.

In 2010 when Nitish Kumar returned Gujarat government's donation, the BJP was desperately seeking to keep Nitish Kumar as an ally. In private conversations, JDU leaders pointed out the 'change of circumstances'.

'In 2010 Nitish Kumar was seeking to woo Muslim votes and did not allow Narendra Modi to enter Bihar and the advertisement appearing in local media was used to prove the point that Narendra Modi was not welcome,' a senior JDU leader said. 'But after seven years the situation has changed with the complete dominance of Narendra Modi at the national level and the Opposition in disarray, plus the fact that Nitish Kumar found he could no longer be with Lalu Prasad.'

In 2010, BJP leaders had said that the advertisement in local dailies showing Nitish and Modi together - which got Nitish's goat - was published without their knowledge.

Asked whether he would request Gujarat not to repeat its 2010 act when it had advertised the aid given to Bihar, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said: 'Much water has flown in the Ganga since that episode took place and there is no point digging the past which has gone by.'

He also tried to downplay Gujarat's aid, pointing out that several other BJP-ruled states too were likely to provide aid for Bihar - such as Madhya Pradesh, which has also provided Rs 5 crore.

'I have spoken to chief ministers of Haryana and Jharkhand and aid of Rs 5 crore each is likely to come to Bihar from these two states,' Sushil said. 'I am also trying to speak to the chief minister of Maharashtra. Even Uttar Pradesh is likely to provide financial aid to Bihar.' Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Tejashwi Yadav was quick to pounce on the issue.

'Gujarat government donating Rs 5 crore to Bihar government is like rubbing salt on a wound,' the former deputy chief minister said. 'In 2010 chief minister Nitish Kumar had returned the cheque of a similar amount as a show of arrogance. During the Assembly polls Nitish projected it as a fight between Biharis and outsiders, meaning Gujaratis. Nitish Kumar should give an explanation to the people of Bihar why Rs 5 crore was returned in 2010 and why is the same amount being accepted now.'

Former MP and RJD national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari, who was sitting next to Nitish at a hotel in Patna in 2010 when the chief minister had announced the returning of Rs 5 crore, pointed out the difference between donations given by other states and Gujarat.

'Several states must have sent in their donations directly to the chief minister office. But the Gujarat government has sent a minister to hand over the cheque,' Tiwari said, insisting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was systematically extracting revenge for the humiliation heaped on him by Nitish in 2110 when Nitish called off the dinner for BJP leaders at 1 Aney Marg because of the presence of Narendra Modi, the then chief minister of Gujarat.

'Narendra Modi does not have the reputation of a man who forgets and forgives,' remarked Tiwari. He is not entirely correct; Madhya Pradesh sent a minister to hand over a cheque to Nitish.

The RJD has been needling Nitish over his ties with the Prime Minister. When Narendra Modi skipped Patna and flew directly to Purnea for the aerial survey with Nitish, RJD leaders alleged that the Prime Minister wanted to avoid having lunch at 1 Aney Marg .

And RJD leaders have been harping on that Narendra Modi has denied the JDU a seat in the Union cabinet, though Nitish has categorically denied his party was in the race for any berth.