In a remarkable session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Thursday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar publicly lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Central government's cooperation and financial assistance to the state. The CM, while speaking in favour of the motion of thanks to the Governor's address, made a direct appeal to all members of the House, including those from opposition benches, to physically express their gratitude.
A Call for Collective Gratitude Sparks Political Drama
Nitish Kumar emphatically stated that the Centre is extending full support for Bihar's development. "PM Narendra Modi has done a lot of work for the state. I offer my salutation to Modi ji for his help and financial assistance provided to Bihar," the Chief Minister declared. He then asked every MLA present to raise their hands as a mark of respect for the Prime Minister, arguing that the development works benefited the entire state.
When opposition MLAs, primarily from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), refrained from raising their hands, the CM directly questioned them. "Why don't you people do it? You also should raise hands to express your gratitude to Modi ji," Nitish Kumar urged. The situation took a personal and humorous turn when he pointed towards senior RJD member Bhai Birendra and remarked, "Why are you not raising your hands? You used to obey me when we were together." This comment was a clear reference to the period when the JD(U) and RJD were allies in the Mahagathbandhan.
Nitish Revisits Past Alliances and Opposition Hits Back
The Chief Minister did not stop there. He addressed the RJD members more broadly, making pointed remarks about their previous partnerships. "I gave you a chance two times. Did development works with you also. When you created a mess and did wrong things, I left you (RJD). Will never come with you (RJD)," Nitish Kumar asserted. This underscored his two short-lived alliances with the RJD-led Mahagathbandhan in 2015 and 2022, before he returned to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
With the Leader of the Opposition, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, absent from the House, RJD's Bodh Gaya MLA Kumar Sarvjeet responded on behalf of his party. Shifting the debate, Sarvjeet raised the contentious issue of the ongoing anti-encroachment drive in the state. He alleged that bulldozers were being used to demolish the houses of poor people, a claim that drew immediate reactions from the ruling NDA benches.
Heated Exchange on Majority Rule and Democratic Space
As Sarvjeet spoke, several NDA members attempted to disrupt his speech with comments. In a powerful retort, the RJD MLA stated, "I knew that if you get an overwhelming majority, then the son of a Dalit will not get a chance to speak." He further criticized the state of governance, adding, "You got an overwhelming majority so streets are empty these days. When streets are empty, the govt becomes uncontrolled. But as long as we are in the opposition, we will not let streets be empty. We will struggle to ensure that streets do not remain empty."
The nearly two-hour-long debate, which saw moments of laughter, pointed jibes, and serious allegations, concluded with the government's reply presented by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary. The session highlighted the deep political fissures in Bihar while showcasing the Chief Minister's unequivocal alignment with the Central government's leadership.
