Patna: The Bihar Legislative Assembly witnessed a tumultuous conclusion to its monsoon session today, marked by fervent protests, heated exchanges, and an unusual display of JDU MLAs wearing helmets for “safety.” The proceedings were ultimately adjourned until 2 PM amidst a continuous ruckus over the ongoing voter list verification drive.
Even before the House convened, opposition MLAs, primarily from the Mahagathbandhan, gathered in the portico dressed in black attire, engaging in loud sloganeering. Congress state president Rajesh Ram accused ruling party MLAs of “hooliganism” and reiterated the opposition’s strong stance against the voter verification process, claiming that “at least 20 percent of the voters’ names will be deleted,” a move they vowed to prevent.
Ruling Alliance Hits Back at Opposition’s Tactics
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, observing the black-clad opposition, remarked, “When these people create a ruckus, see what kind of clothes they are wearing. Everyone is wearing the same kind of clothes. We are seeing you people every day. All the party people are doing all this together.” He further criticized their actions, stating, “You had never worn such clothes. They are doing the opposite work. You know how much work the government has done. You people are also benefiting. Earlier it used to happen once or twice. What are you people doing.”
In a dramatic counter-protest, JDU MLAs arrived at the assembly wearing helmets, asserting that they did so for their safety, citing alleged “hooliganism” by RJD MLAs instead of constructive debate. BJP MLA Haribhushan Bachaul also weighed in on the opposition’s black attire, quipping, “the mind and thinking of these people is black, that is why they come wearing black clothes.”
Lingering Tensions from Previous Day’s Clashes
The final day’s uproar followed a particularly acrimonious fourth day of the session, which saw a fierce verbal battle between Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. Tejashwi had accused ruling party members of verbally abusing his mother and sister within the House. Following this, Tej Pratap Yadav had publicly threatened the Deputy CM, stating he would have “brought down the fever” if he had been present.
