Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday, December 4, 2025, issued a sharp rebuke to opposition legislators in the state assembly for their refusal to acknowledge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's contributions to Bihar's development. The incident occurred during the debate on the Governor's address, turning the spotlight on the state's sharp political divides.
A Call for Gratitude and a Sharp Rebuke
While responding to the Governor's speech, Nitish Kumar expressed his gratitude towards Prime Minister Modi. He then made an unusual request, asking all members of the legislative assembly to raise their hands as a gesture of thanks to the Prime Minister for his work for the state. While legislators from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) complied, members of the opposition benches did not participate.
This prompted a direct and personal admonishment from the Chief Minister. Turning towards the opposition, Nitish Kumar questioned, "Why don't you people, too, raise your hands to say thanks to the PM for whatever he has done for Bihar?" He then recalled his past alliances with them, stating, "When I was with you, you would listen to my advice. I worked with you twice, but will never align with you again." This 'never again' remark underscored the permanence of his current political break from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and others.
Opposition's Retort and the 'Bulldozer Baba' Defence
With Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav absent, Bodhgaya MLA Kumar Sarvajeet responded on behalf of the RJD. He highlighted the Chief Minister's shifting political stance, saying, "The CM confuses us. When he was with us, he used to talk about how the BJP was a threat to the Constitution. Now he is asking us to hail the PM. Which of the two things should we hold true?"
Another key moment in the session involved Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Samrat Choudhary addressing the nickname 'Bulldozer Baba' given to him by critics. The opposition has accused him of targeting the poor through demolition drives. Choudhary firmly rejected the label, clarifying, "I am not Bulldozer Baba. We have been working as per the instructions of the courts to remove illegal encroachment. The land mafia has reasons to be afraid." He emphasized that the state's development follows the "Nitish Kumar model."
NDA Leaders on the Landslide Victory and Vision
The debate also provided NDA leaders a platform to discuss the coalition's recent resounding victory in the Bihar assembly elections. Senior JD(U) leader and Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary addressed the impact of the government's scheme providing Rs 10,000 each to 1.41 crore women. He stated that while the scheme was an "immediate reason" for the win, the massive mandate was ultimately a "reward for what Nitish Kumar has done in the last 20 years."
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar himself elaborated on his two-decade tenure, listing various achievements. He also set a forward-looking goal, announcing the government's aim to create 1 crore jobs in the coming five years, a promise likely to shape his administration's agenda.
The assembly session, which concluded on Friday, December 5, also featured brief speeches from HAM (S) MLA Jyoti Manjhi, RLM MLA Madhav Anand, AIMIM leader Akhtarul Iman, and Indian Inclusive Party leader I P Gupta, reflecting the diverse political voices in the Bihar legislature.
