A verbal confrontation erupted in the Bihar legislative assembly on Friday after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, successfully passed the floor test. The ruling coalition showcased unity and reiterated its dedication to the state's development, even as the opposition questioned the financial stability of Bihar.
BJP leaders, including state president and Darbhanga MLA Sanjay Saraogi, affirmed that the government remains committed to fulfilling the aspirations of the people and making the state prosperous. They dismissed allegations of a fiscal crisis as baseless.
BJP spokesperson Niraj Kumar presented a comparative chart of other states, highlighting that Bihar's debt stands at approximately 35% of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), which he argued reflects a robust economic position. This statement was in response to the remarks made by Leader of the Opposition in the legislative assembly, Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, during the vote of confidence.
Deputy Chief Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav also refuted Tejashwi's claims regarding a financial crisis. He stated, "Neither is the treasury empty, nor is there any kind of financial difficulty. The state government possesses adequate resources for development works, and no scheme will be put on hold. Borrowing has its own specific policy. The Government of India as well as the USA borrows money. I assure you that Bihar's treasury is not empty. Attempts are being made to spread confusion without any factual basis."
However, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader countered, "While every government incurs debt, the burden of debt on Bihar has surged to approximately Rs 4 lakh crore. The per capita debt stands at around Rs 27,000. The state exchequer is in a precarious condition, and many people are not even receiving their pensions and salaries. If the government claims it has money, then it does not need to take loans. There is no money in the state treasury."
In response, BJP's Niraj Kumar released a chart showing the debt of various states: Tamil Nadu at Rs 9 lakh crore, Uttar Pradesh at Rs 8.60 lakh crore, Maharashtra at Rs 8.10 lakh crore, Karnataka at Rs 7.30 lakh crore, West Bengal at Rs 7.20 lakh crore, Rajasthan at Rs 6.40 lakh crore, Punjab at Rs 4.27 lakh crore, and Bihar at Rs 4.10 lakh crore.
After the floor test, Sanjay Saraogi stated that the NDA government is committed to the development of Bihar. "The NDA government in the state remains dedicated to fulfilling the aspirations of the people," Saraogi said, extending his best wishes to Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha expressed gratitude to everyone for their support to the NDA government in Bihar. He also extended his best wishes to the Chief Minister and both Deputy Chief Ministers, Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav. He asserted that there was, there is, and there will be an NDA government tomorrow as well.
Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) state president and Govindganj MLA Raju Tiwari, along with BJP minister Ram Kripal Yadav, also took swipes at Tejashwi Yadav.
