Patna,(BiharTimes): An extraordinary gesture shown by Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar towards the Union Finance Minister, P Chidambaram, on Saturday once again set off speculation about the proximity between the Congress Party and Janata Dal (United).

Nitish took Chidambaram in his own car to the Bihar Congress headquarters at Sadaquat Ashram and even waited outside for a while as the Union Finance Minister talked to party workers briefly. He later saw the finance minister off at the Patna airport.

The Congress as well as JD(U) leaders and workers were surprised by this courtesy shown by the chief minister.

However, AICC spokesman Shakeel Ahmad, while talking to reporters played down by stating that there was nothing unusual about Nitish’s conduct. He said that this is merely extension of basic courtesy by the CM, who played a good host, Ahmad added.

Nitish’s gesture was in reciprocation to Chidambaram’s indication while speaking to the media at airport that the Centre was amenable to conceding his demand for special category status for Bihar.