A two-day summit of MLAs and MLCs of Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal (United) at the hill resort of Rajgir saw chief minister and party stalwart Nitish Kumar hearing out their concerns and suggestions with patience and offering them perceptive advice about politics and governance.
The summit, which ended on Monday, involved extensive brainstorming and stock-taking about the ambitious regional political party’s comfortably strong position in Bihar and the need to maintain the current momentum of governance, said party leaders.
It was the first occasion for the Janata Dal (United)’s elected and nominated legislators to openly hold discussions with Mr Kumar after his return to power with a massive mandate a year ago.
As Mr Kumar sought Janata Dal (United) legislators’ feedback on the functioning of the coalition government machinery and encouraged them to suggest improvements, most MLAs who chose to speak complained of slow progress in implementation of projects related to roads, electricity and irrigation.
On Sunday, 170 MLAs and MLCs were present in the session in which Mr Kumar and Janata Dal (United) state chief Vashisth Narayan Singh heard out about 45 legislators for five hours.
Various ministers were brought face to face with the legislators at this meeting and asked to clarify the legislators’ queries.
The JD(U)’s office-bearers, present in large numbers, found this interaction reassuring and useful because they were often left clueless about the development projects.
Sources in the Janata Dal (United), however, said that most ministers and MLAs spoke hardly anything “important or revealing” other than lavishing praises on the chief minister.
The three pieces of advice Mr Nitish Kumar gave to the MLAs were that they must focus on their constituency’s well-being, contribute to the party’s ongoing state-wide plantation scheme and make people aware of the new anti-corruption measures put in operation by the NDA government.
Mr Kumar on Monday had a ride on a horse-drawn carriage in Rajgir, 110 km south-east of capital Patna, as a token gesture to promote tourism.
But with the Janata Dal (United) summit having led to most hotel rooms in the tourist town booked by politicians, tourists reaching for the three-day Rajgir Mahotsava starting from December 29 faced difficulties finding rooms.
The chief minister will be present through the entire festival.