Patna (Bihar): The Bihar Vidhan Sabha witnessed high drama on Tuesday as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar lost his composure during a heated exchange with opposition members. The confrontation began during the morning session when Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLA Kumar Sarvajeet raised concerns over a recent lathi charge on village ‘chowkidars’ (watchmen) who were protesting for a stipend hike.
The situation escalated rapidly as opposition MLAs stormed the well of the House, chanting slogans that the current administration was a “government of guns and bullets.” The 76-year-old Chief Minister, visibly provoked by the accusations, retorted sharply, dismissing the opposition’s claims as “rubbish” and asserting that his government would continue to function without interruption.
During his rebuttal, Kumar took a swipe at the RJD’s diminished strength in the 243-member assembly, following their poor performance in the last elections. He further criticized the opposition’s previous governance record, reminding the House of the “abysmal” law and order situation prior to 2005, when he claimed citizens feared leaving their homes after dark. Kumar insisted that those with such a track record had no standing to lecture the current government on administrative ethics.
The turmoil was eventually managed by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who intervened to pacify the agitated members. Chaudhary assured the House that the government is open to dialogue and will invite representatives of the ‘chowkidar’ associations for formal talks to address their grievances regarding pay and working conditions.
Despite the assurance, the session highlighted the deepening friction between the JD(U)-led NDA government and the RJD opposition. The incident reflects the volatile political climate in Bihar as both sides trade barbs over administrative accountability and historical performance.
