Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan on Friday asserted that the state had witnessed the establishment of the “rule of law” and “sustained development” since 24 November 2005, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar first won the floor test.
Delivering his customary address to the joint session of the legislature, which marked the commencement of the budget session, Khan repeatedly referenced this date in his 30-minute speech.
“Ever since the formation of a new government on 24 November 2005, the state has been experiencing rule of law and sustained development. The state government has always emphasised development with justice and good governance, which implies growth of all classes in all spheres,” the governor stated in his opening remarks.
His address, however, was disrupted by sloganeering from members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation (CPI-ML), who entered the Vidhan Sabha premises wearing handcuffs and chains in protest against the treatment of Indian nationals deported by the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Visibly irked, Khan responded with a terse remark: “Your protest has been registered. Now you please allow me to discharge my constitutional responsibilities.”
Progress since 2005
Underlining Bihar’s transformation since the change of government in 2005, the governor pointed out that the state police force had expanded significantly, with personnel strength increasing from 42,481 to 1.10 lakh. The number of police stations had risen from 841 to 1,380.
Education was another key area of development, with the governor highlighting that 3.22 lakh teachers had been recruited by 2022, followed by an additional 2.17 lakh in two phases. The third phase, now completed, would facilitate the appointment of another 66,800 teachers.
Kumar, who leads the Janata Dal (United) and is the longest-serving chief minister of Bihar, was seen smiling at the repeated mention of the pivotal date.
Meanwhile, members of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Congress, who governed Bihar before Kumar’s tenure and have been accused of presiding over an era of “jungle raj”, were seen exchanging whispers, speculating whether their past governance was being indirectly acknowledged. Kumar, notably, has allied with them twice in the past.
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While the opposition benches largely remained passive, CPI-ML, a key ally of RJD and Congress, later issued a strongly-worded statement dismissing the governor’s speech as a “bundle of lies” intended to mask the failures of the JD(U)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.
The governor also elaborated on Bihar’s roadmap for agricultural and healthcare reforms, including the establishment of new medical colleges.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining “social and communal harmony,” citing initiatives such as the fencing of kabristans (Muslim burial grounds) and the construction of boundary walls around Hindu temples registered with the state religious trust board at least 60 years ago.
On employment, Khan asserted that “9.35 lakh government jobs have already been created” and pledged that “the total number will rise to 12 lakh, not just 10 lakh, before the assembly elections due later this year.”
Notably, the promise of “10 lakh government jobs” has been a major electoral plank of opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, who previously served as deputy chief minister during RJD’s brief alliances with JD(U).
Women’s empowerment and welfare measures
Women’s empowerment, a cornerstone of Nitish Kumar’s governance, was given prominence in the governor’s speech. He recalled major milestones such as the 50 per cent reservation for women in civic bodies (introduced in 2007), followed by a 35 per cent quota in police recruitment in 2013, and its subsequent extension to all government departments in 2016.
The governor also detailed social welfare measures, including financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh each to 94 lakh families from all social groups—Dalits, backward classes, upper castes, and minorities—identified in the 2023 caste survey.
Centre’s support to Bihar
In conclusion, Khan expressed gratitude to the Union government for its “generous help” in the recent Union Budget.
He cited key announcements by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, including the establishment of a Makhana Board, new airports, economic assistance for a canal in the flood-prone Kosi region, and the expansion of IIT Patna.
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