Anna Hazare and his team could not meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday.  At the time of filing of this report, Gandhi had not confirmed her appointment with Hazare.

Yesterday, the social activist had said that he wanted to discuss the civil society's stand on the Lokpal Bill with the Congress chief.

"We will meet all parties...We will meet Sonia and tell her if the Prime Minister is saying so, then what is the problem," Hazare had said.

Hazare was responding to Singh's remarks that he had no hesitation in bringing himself under the purview of Lokpal but many of his Cabinet colleagues feel that bringing the institution of Prime Minister under it will create instability.

Team Hazare could manage a meeting with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar at Bihar Bhavan in the capital on Thursday.

Kumar questioned the Centre's decision of sending two drafts of Lokpal Bill for consideration and demanded that the government be clear before seeking states' views on the proposed legislation.

Indicating his willingness to set up a Lokayukta in Bihar, Kumar also said he will discuss the matter within JD(U) and ally BJP and invite the Anna Hazare team to Patna on the issue.

"Let the government tell us what is its view. Why two drafts are being sent to states for views. First, the government should make its stand clear on what it wants. Then only we can comment on it," he told reporters here.

Asked about whether his party would attend the all party meeting, he said he would discuss with other party leaders on the issue.

"There was a discussion with Hazare and others on the issue of setting up Lokayukta in states. We had a discussion on the matter. I will have a discussion within my party (JD-U) and with allies on the matter. I will also invite Hazare and others to Patna to discuss the issue," he said.

Kumar's announcement came after activists Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi and Manish Sisodia had a meeting with the Chief Minister at Bihar Niwas for drumming up support for their version of the Lokpal Bill.

Kumar said he will have detailed discussions within his party and with allies on the Lokpal Bill before taking a final stand on the issue.

Without going into details, he said the scope of the ombudsman should be comprehensive and the need was for a strong legislation to eradicate corruption.

Commending Kumar on the steps taken by him in checking corruption, Hazare said the Bihar Chief Minister has already initiated many things which the civil society's Lokpal Bill envisages.