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The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nitish berates Opposition members for coming to Assembly dressed in black
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday (July 25, 2025) berated Opposition MLAs for turning up at the Assembly wearing black shirts, as a mark of protest against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The longest serving CM of the State expressed his vexation on the final day of the monsoon session, which is the current Assembly's last before fresh elections, to be announced in barely a couple of months from now. As Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav started conducting the Question Hour, Opposition members were on their feet, raising slogans against the exercise, which has kept the assembly on the boil so far. Mr. Yadav remarked, in jest, "It is raining today. The weather is cool. Why are you people getting heated? Allow the House to function. This is the last day". Soon afterwards, the Chief Minister rose in his chair and said, "These people who are making so much noise understand nothing about legislative business. They have never done anything worthwhile". When some of the Opposition members protested, the 75-year-old Leader of the House retorted, "Why on earth are you wearing black clothes? I have been seeing you people do so for the last few days. Have you ever done so before?". Interestingly, quite a few MLAs of Mr. Kumar's JD(U) and his ally BJP had come to the House wearing helmets, claiming that they feared getting hit by the unruly Opposition members. The Speaker pleaded with the opposition members, some of whom had by the time entered the well, to behave themselves, pointing out that some school children had been invited to watch the proceedings of the House. However, some of the opposition members continued creating a ruckus, and tried to overturn furniture meant for the reporting staff. Subsequently, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm, within minutes of the commencement of proceedings.
Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Tejashwi leads Oppn attack in Bihar assembly: ‘Not against roll revision but the process'
The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls continued to cause stormy scenes at the monsoon session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly for the third day in a row, with the Speaker allowing discussion on the subject after three days of Opposition protest. Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav's decision to allow the discussion came despite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's objections to it. During the debate, Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav questioned the timing, transparency, and documentation requirements for SIR – the Election Commission's contentious exercise to update electoral rolls. 'The Constitution grants the right to vote to every person above 18 years, regardless of wealth or status. This equality must not be infringed,' he said. The Opposition, he insisted, 'wasn't against the SIR itself' but opposed the process. Referring to complaints cited by the Election Commission about non-resident and 'external' voters. 'The Election Commission should work honestly and transparently, but it is not doing so. We strongly oppose and deny this in the House,' he said. 'It is shameful that such a significant drive is going on and yet the Election Commissioner has not addressed the press to clarify their position; instead, information emerges only through unnamed sources.' He also wondered at the 'urgency' of conducting the exercise, pointing out that the last such revision in 2003 took two years to complete. 'If the process is so important, why not start after the Lok Sabha elections? Why was it initiated now, during the monsoon season?' he asked. 'Bihar is at the bottom in terms of essential documents, whether it's a birth or death certificate. Only 2.3% of people have the necessary documents. Now, 11 documents are being demanded which most poor people don't possess. Why aren't Aadhaar, ration cards, or MNREGA cards being accepted, despite Supreme Court suggestions?' This figure includes both 3.5 crore registered workers and around 1 crore unregistered voters who, despite their tenure outside, 'return to Bihar to vote'. 'There is now a risk their names may be deleted from the rolls,' the LOP argued. Addressing allegations about foreign nationals on the rolls, he said: 'The matter is pending before the Supreme Court. In the 780-page affidavit filed by the Election Commission, there is no mention of any Bangladeshi, Nepali, or Myanmar national. Even BJP's over 52,000 Booth Level Agents have never raised such complaints with the Election Commission.' In response, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar accused the Opposition of making electoral rolls revision 'an issue because of their lack of work and upcoming elections'. The RJD too had been in power once, he went on to say. 'Why are you raising these issues now? Your father was chief minister for seven years, then your mother for another seven years, and then you were also deputy chief minister,' Kumar said. 'Look at what your budget used to be earlier, and how much more we've done for everyone now. Today, it's more than Rs 3 lakh crore and the central government is providing a lot of support too… we surveyed Bihar to identify where anything was lacking. Wherever there were gaps, we've addressed them… Whenever there was a need, we made sure the work got done,' he said. He then said: 'Ab mamla hai ki chunav ladna hai to bhai chunav ladiye aur uske band jitna bolna hai bolte rahiye (But now it's about contesting elections. So go contest and then you can say as much as you like).' The situation began to heat up when a comment made by RJD MLA Bhai Virendra caused uproar and led to the house being adjourned until the afternoon session.
Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Not against SIR itself but against the process': Tejashwi after at Bihar Speaker allows discussion on electoral rolls revision
The Special Intensive Revision continued to cause stormy scenes at the monsoon session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly for the third day in a row, with the Speaker allowing discussion on the subject after three days of Opposition protest. Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav's decision to allow the discussion came despite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's objections to it. During the debate, Bihar's Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav questioned the timing, transparency, and documentation requirements for SIR – the Election Commission's contentious exercise to update electoral rolls. 'The Constitution grants the right to vote to every person above 18 years, regardless of wealth or status. This equality must not be infringed,' he said. The Opposition, he insisted, 'wasn't against the SIR itself' but opposed the process. Referring to complaints cited by the Election Commission about non-resident and 'external' voters. 'The Election Commission should work honestly and transparently, but it is not doing so. We strongly oppose and deny this in the House,' he said. 'It is shameful that such a significant drive is going on and yet the Election Commissioner has not addressed the press to clarify their position, instead, information emerges only through unnamed sources.' He also wondered at the 'urgency' of conducting the exercise, pointing out that the last such revision in 2003 took two years to complete. 'If the process is so important, why not start after the Lok Sabha elections? Why was it initiated now, during the monsoon season?' he asked. 'Bihar is at the bottom in terms of essential documents, whether it's a birth or death certificate. Only 2.3% of people have the necessary documents. Now, 11 documents are being demanded which most poor people don't possess. Why aren't Aadhaar, ration cards, or MNREGA cards being accepted, despite Supreme Court suggestions?' This figure includes both 3.5 crore registered workers and around 1 crore unregistered voters who, despite their tenure outside, 'return Bihar to vote'. 'There is now a risk their names may be deleted from the rolls,' the LOP argued. Addressing allegations about foreign nationals on the rolls, he said: 'The matter is pending before the Supreme Court. In the 780-page affidavit filed by the Election Commission, there is no mention of any Bangladeshi, Nepali, or Myanmar national. Even BJP's over 52,000 Booth Level Agents have never raised such complaints with the Election Commission.' In response, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar accused the Opposition of making electoral rolls revision 'an issue because of their lack of work and upcoming elections'. The RJD too had been in power once, he went on to say. 'Why are you raising these issues now? Your father was chief minister for seven years, then your mother for another seven years, and then you were also deputy chief minister,' Kumar said. 'Look at what your budget used to be earlier, and how much more we've done for everyone now. Today, it's more than Rs 3 lakh crore and the central government is providing a lot of support too… we surveyed Bihar to identify where anything was lacking. Wherever there were gaps, we've addressed them… Whenever there was a need, we made sure the work got done,' he said. He then said: 'Ab mamla hai ki chunav ladna hai to bhai chunav ladiye aur uske band jitna bolna hai bolte rahiye (But now it's about contesting elections. So go contest and then you can say as much nonsense as you like).' The situation began to heat up when a comment made by RJD MLA Bhai Virendra caused uproar and lead to the house being adjourned until the afternoon session.
The Print
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Tejashwi-Nitish spat in Bihar Assembly over SIR
The Speaker expressed disgust over the conduct of many opposition members, who used unparliamentary language, as also those on the ruling side, who refused to back down despite repeated requests. The situation escalated quickly, prompting Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav to adjourn the proceedings till 2 pm, barely 30 minutes after the House had convened at 11 am. Patna, Jul 23 (PTI) High drama unfolded in Bihar Assembly on Wednesday after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's intervention during leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav's statement on the special intensive revision of electoral rolls triggered a heated exchange. The leader of the opposition, who was wearing a black T-shirt as a mark of protest against the Election Commission's exercise in the state, was allowed by the Speaker to make a statement on the issue, which had evoked protests both inside and outside the House on Tuesday. Before letting the RJD leader speak, the Speaker remarked, 'Yesterday, some very unfortunate incidents took place. Some staff members of the House were also injured. Please ensure that nothing of the sort happens today'. In his statement, the RJD leader said, 'We are not opposed to the special intensive revision per se, but how the Election Commission has been carrying out the exercise is objectionable. Why so late, when elections are just around the corner? They could have conducted it a few months earlier'. 'Only two-three per cent of voters in the state may have the documents that the EC is asking them to produce. What is this fear of fake voters? Does the EC mean to say fake voters have made Narendra Modi the PM and Nitish Kumar the CM. The EC has also not spoken of any foreign nationals in the voters' list in its affidavit before the Supreme Court', said the former Deputy CM. He also sought to know 'what would be the fate of nearly 4.5 crore residents of the state who are registered as voters, and come during elections from the places where they are eking out a living. The EC has threatened to strike off the names of people who were not found at their registered addresses'. The chief minister, who seemed unhappy with the discussion being allowed on the issue, rose in his seat to intervene. 'You are a child. You know nothing of matters like these. Only three days are left of this last session of the House. Let it conduct legislative business. Whatever rubbish you want to speak, you may do it to your heart's content during elections', said the longest-serving CM of the state. The 75-year-old, who has for most part been a BJP ally, except for two short-lived alliances with the RJD-Congress combine, said, 'When his (Yadav's) parents were chief ministers, they did nothing, neither for the women, nor for Muslims, nor any other section of society. The only woman who got something was his mother'. Cabinet colleagues of the CM, who have of late been making headlines for unrestrained behaviour in public, were seen tugging at his sleeves to make him take his seat. By the time Kumar got seated, several of the opposition members were on their feet, and those on the ruling side engaged in a shouting match. When Bhai Virendra, an RJD MLA, used an unparliamentary expression, the Speaker looked peeved. He told the leader of the opposition, 'I have allowed you to make a statement. I am letting others on your side also speak, but you must first make Bhai Virendra apologise'. Turning towards the ruling side, the Speaker reacted with horror when he saw Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha, a senior BJP leader and a former Speaker himself, screaming at the top of his voice. The Speaker said, 'It is disgusting that you are behaving in this fashion, despite being a deputy CM', before adjourning the proceedings till lunch. Later, the leader of the opposition addressed a hurriedly convened press conference at his residence. 'The Speaker had allowed a discussion in which the ruling parties would also have got a chance to express their views. But ministers, and especially Deputy CM Sinha, were more interested in petty politics', alleged Yadav. 'Fifty-five lakh people have been, so far, declared by the Election Commission as not present at their registered addresses. What is going to be their fate? It is an issue on which the government should share the concerns of the opposition', said Yadav. He added, 'The deputy CM may have been irked that I exposed the lie his colleague and he have been spreading about inclusion of Bangladeshis in the voters' list.' When the House reassembled after lunch, members of the opposition trooped into the well, raising slogans and waving placards, but staged a walkout after a few minutes of ruckus. PTI PKD NAC MNB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
News18
21-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Bihar monsoon session begins; Rs 57,946 cr supplementary budget tabled
Patna, Jul 21 (PTI) The five-day monsoon session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly began on Monday, with tributes paid to political leaders who passed away earlier this year. This was followed by Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who also holds the Finance portfolio, presenting the first supplementary budget of around Rs 57,947 crore for the current financial year. Soon after, Speaker Nand Kishor Yadav adjourned the House for the day. During the session, several important legislative and financial business will be taken up. The Speaker said this would be the final session of the current Assembly before the state goes to polls, and urged cooperation from both treasury and opposition benches to ensure smooth proceedings. The session will end on July 25. The opening day also saw protests by members of the CPI(ML) Liberation, a constituent of the INDIA bloc, who demonstrated against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Wearing black kurtas, the MLAs marked their dissent by staging a symbolic protest at the Assembly premises. PTI NAC PKD MNB Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
