Patna: The Bihar Legislative Assembly on Saturday marked its 106th foundation day with a blend of ceremony, history and technological ambition, as senior parliamentary leaders gathered in Patna to inaugurate a new “Digital House” aimed at modernising legislative work.
Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Rajya Sabha deputy chairman Harivansh, Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju and Bihar assembly speaker Prem Kumar attended the main ceremony, held on a campus decorated with flowers brought in from Kolkata. The celebrations lent a festive air to the historic building while underscoring its democratic legacy.
Prem Kumar formally welcomed Birla by presenting him with a shawl and memento, while other dignitaries were also felicitated. The centrepiece of the event was the inauguration of the Digital House, developed under the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), which seeks to enable paperless proceedings, real-time access to legislative documents and greater transparency.
Launching the initiative, Birla described digitalisation as a crucial step towards making legislatures more efficient and accountable. A discussion on the theme “Strong legislators, strong democracy” followed, with leaders from both the ruling alliance and the opposition sharing their views on parliamentary conduct and institutional strength.
The Bihar Legislative Assembly was established on February 7, 1921 when the first meeting of the elected provincial council was held under the chairmanship of Sir Walter More. Over the past 106 years, it has evolved from a colonial-era institution into a key pillar of democratic governance in independent India.
Addressing the gathering, Prem Kumar said democracy was sustained not only through elections but also through the dignity of institutions and active public participation. He urged members to engage in constructive criticism while upholding the traditions and decorum of the House, concluding his remarks with a call to preserve its constitutional values.
Parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Chaudhary, who conveyed his best wishes in the absence of chief minister Nitish Kumar, stressed the importance of historical awareness in public life. He argued that meeting citizens’ expectations was essential to strengthening democracy and controversially described Article 104 of the Constitution as “irrelevant”, urging its repeal.
The celebrations are set to continue through the day, with Om Birla scheduled to deliver the presidential address. Chief minister Nitish Kumar, leader of the opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, deputy chief ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha, and several senior leaders are also expected to speak.
