Bihar Assembly: CM Shifts Teacher Hours to 10-4; Education Minister Blames Alliance Split on Credit Dispute, Attributes Recruitment Decision Solely to Nitish

Patna: The Bihar Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchanges and significant developments on its fifth day of the budget session on Tuesday, as proceedings were adjourned till tomorrow following a series of contentious debates and announcements.

In a pivotal moment during today’s session, Education Minister Vijay Chaudhary shed light on the fracture within the Grand Alliance, attributing it to a dispute over credit for restoration efforts. Chaudhary accused Dr. Chandrashekhar of engaging in a race for undue recognition, which ultimately led to the alliance’s breakdown. He emphasized that during his tenure, the decision to appoint teachers through the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) was made, contrasting it with the mere issuance of notifications during Dr. Chandrashekhar’s time.

Amidst the morning deliberations, opposition members raised concerns about the working hours of teachers, prompting Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to announce a revision in school timings. Kumar asserted that the current timing of 9 am to 5 pm would be altered to 10 am to 4 pm, eliciting both support and dissent from various quarters within the assembly.

The Chief Minister’s directive sparked protests from the opposition, who criticized KK Pathak’s alleged disregard for Nitish’s instructions. In response, Nitish pledged to address the matter directly with Pathak, signaling a potential reshuffling of responsibilities within the administration.

As discussions unfolded, the budget allocations for 11 departments, encompassing vital sectors such as water resources, education, rural development, and transportation, were scrutinized. Meanwhile, opposition MLAs staged demonstrations outside the assembly, with former Education Minister Chandrashekhar Singh teasing forthcoming revelations regarding purported irregularities in the education sector.

Reflecting on the previous day’s proceedings, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Samrat Chaudhary defended the budget, highlighting a substantial increase from Rs 22 thousand crore to Rs 2 lakh 78 thousand crore. Chaudhary’s speech, spanning 24 minutes, underscored the government’s fiscal priorities while invoking the name of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar repeatedly and making occasional references to the Lalu family.