Murder? By whom?

• Tejashwi Yadav's claim that he might be poisoned to death appears to have triggered off political gossip. "Why should Nitish Kumar want Tejashwi Yadav dead? Tejashwi is more valuable to Nitish alive than dead, just as the BJP is hoping for a long life for an enfeebled Lalu. They depend on each other for their political survival," said a senior Congress politician. But JDU leaders were quick to point out that Tejashwi's fears may not be totally unfounded. "The only thing that Tejashwi has not mentioned is the fact that the threat does not come from outside but from inside the family," said a JDU MLA in private conversation, comparing the RJD first family to the Nepal royals. Others dismissed the charge saying the brothers were trying to project themselves as martyrs.

The unwanted

• Former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was recently complaining that NDA partners do not call him to their functions and he felt neglected. JDU sources said a close kin of the former chief minister was recently in Ranchi to meet RJD chief Lalu Prasad. The relative is reported to have asked Lalu to make Manjhi an MLC and he would, in return, ensure that Manjhi joins the RJD. "I don't know if Manjhi is aware but like Lalu's family, he too faces the problem of ambitious relatives," said a politician who was close to Manjhi. "His trouble is trust deficit. He may not be wanted by the NDA but is not wanted by the RJD either. He is considered untrustworthy."

Passage to Japan

• After Tejashwi Yadav tweeted the Hindi song Le gayi dil gudiya Japan ki to attack Nitish Kumar, his opponents criticised him for stooping so low. Tejashwi responded by alleging that Nitish Kumar had sung the same song when his father had gone to Japan. JDU leaders said they can't recall Nitish having issued such a statement. "But anyway Nitishji has come back from Japan with a sister nation," a JDU leader said, hinting at Japan's acceptance of Nitish's proposal to connect Bihar's Bodhgaya and Japan's Nara prefecture in the Kansai region as "sisters".

Mann ki Baat

• The sudden meeting between BJP national president Amit Shah and RLSP chief and Union minister Upendra Kushwaha has set tongues wagging. The buzz is that Shah asked Kushwaha to tell him his "mann ki baat (what's on his mind)". "Kushwaha's blow hot-blow cold statements towards the NDA have tired us all," said a senior BJP leader. "It is but natural that the BJP chief should call him and ask him to show his cards before the next elections. We do not want him to suddenly spring a surprise on us." Kushwaha's followers, however, see the meeting as a victory of sorts that reflects the importance central BJP leaders accord to the RLSP.