Nitish, Advani meeting kicks up a political storm in Bihar

"We meet people associated with the JP movement despite the fact that some of them are in different parties. What is wrong in it?" he asked.

Singh said it was common knowledge that JD (U) separated from BJP after 17 years of association on ideological lines. "The decision to break up (with BJP) is final and based on our party ideology. Hence making political statements out of courtesy meeting does not hold any importance," he added.

Bihar BJP too sought to downplay the meeting, describing it as standard practice under political protocol.

"The exchange of greetings by leaders of different political parties is routine practice and take place as per established political protocol," senior BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters here.