Yashwant Sinha hands a cheque to a woman, as Manish Jaiswal (third from right) looks on in Hazaribagh on Sunday. Picture by Vishvendu Jaipuriar

Hazaribagh, Jan. 16: Hazaribagh MP Yashwant Sinha doled out cheques to beneficiaries of Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) at Kumhartoli Mohalla today, after a surprise appearance alongside Manish Jaiswal, son of his arch-rival Braj Kishore Jaiswal.

There have been speculations of a truce between the rivals in local political circles since Braj Kishore — an aide of JVM president Babulal Marandi — paid an unexpected visit to Rishab Vatika, Sinha’s bungalow, after being elected zilla parishad chairman on Friday.

According to sources, Manish, also the acting chairman of Hazaribagh Municipal Board, is eager to contest from Sadar Assembly seat on a BJP ticket. The meeting between Jaiswal and the former external affairs minister was therefore viewed with interest.

With Sinha and Manish sharing a dais today, it might be a confirmation of a renewed friendship between both sides, sources said. It could spell trouble for sitting Congress MLA from Sadar, Saurabh Narayan Singh, if the BJP fielded Manish from the seat in the future, they added.

Incidentally, Marandi met the Jaiswal duo late yesterday evening, ostensibly to discuss local political issues. “But it was also an exercise by Marandi to stop the Jaiswals from moving to the BJP fold,” a JVM leader said.

Marandi said he had come to Hazaribagh to congratulate Braj Kishore for being elected as zilla parishad chairman.

Meanwhile, Sinha handed cheques of Rs 49,442 each to 60 women under IHSDP. “Women perform their duties properly, right from cooking to taking care of children. We have given the cheques so that you utilise every paisa under the scheme,” he told them.