Bihar MLAs Unite, Demand Rs 5 Crore Constituency Fund in Assembly
In a rare display of cross-party unity, MLAs in Bihar's legislative assembly on Monday collectively demanded that the constituency development fund be increased to Rs 5 crore. The demand triggered sloganeering and protests during Question Hour, with members from both the treasury and opposition benches standing together to voice their support.
Government Response and Assurances
The protest prompted immediate responses from senior officials. Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha assured the House that the government would look into the matter. Earlier, Yadav had stated that if the MP fund is increased, the state government would consider a similar step, which led to an uproar as members sought a more immediate and positive commitment.
Deputy CM Sinha later clarified that the minister would seriously consider the demand and discuss it with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, aiming to address the concerns raised by the legislators.
Rationale Behind the Demand
BJP MLA Sunal Kumar argued that Bihar is the fastest-growing state in the country, and material costs have risen significantly since 2023. He pointed out that the current allocation of Rs 4 crore per MLA's constituency, which typically includes at least 40 panchayats and 40 wards in urban areas, is insufficient. According to Kumar, the available funds are exhausted after recommending merely 25 schemes.
"We are not going to distribute saris. We will only contribute to Bihar's development through the development fund," he emphasized, highlighting the need for more resources to support infrastructure and welfare projects.
Another MLA, Pramod Kumar, cited examples from neighbouring states such as Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where MLAs receive Rs 5 crore each for their constituencies, urging Bihar to align with these benchmarks.
Other Key Issues Discussed
The assembly session also addressed several other critical matters:
- Drug Menace: In response to queries from Subhanand Mukesh, Home Minister Samrat Choudhary reported that action is being taken against drug mafias in the state. He stated that in 2025, police registered 2,161 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) and arrested 2,958 of the 3,520 accused named in the FIRs. Regular raids and checks are being conducted around educational institutions, with patrol teams maintaining surveillance to curb drug activities.
- Student Credit Card Scheme: Former Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad raised concerns about the non-credit of funds to the bank accounts of 5,254 girl students under the Student Credit Card Scheme. Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav assured that a corporation was constituted after the scheme's launch and the process is underway, with pending cases being resolved.
- Liquor Prohibition: The issue of liquor prohibition was debated both inside and outside the House. RJD MLA Ranvijay Sahu claimed that the illegal liquor trade in Bihar is worth Rs 30,000 crore, alleging that the police administration has failed to enforce total prohibition. He cited an incident where five people died after consuming poisonous liquor in Rohtas district on February 18, and using government and NCRB data, he asserted that over 300 people have died from spurious liquor since the prohibition law took effect in 2016. Sahu further alleged that excise department personnel arrest small smugglers to inflate statistics while larger syndicates operate with impunity, demanding an immediate discussion on the issue in the assembly.
The session highlighted the pressing need for increased development funds and addressed ongoing challenges related to law enforcement and social welfare in Bihar.
