By Vishwapati
Patna: The eighth day of the Bihar Legislature’s budget session unfolded amidst intense uproar and heated exchanges, as the opposition continued to press the government on a range of issues. With the session progressing, the confrontation between the ruling party and the opposition has grown increasingly contentious. Even before the Bihar Assembly proceedings commenced today, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MLAs staged a vigorous protest outside the House, voicing their demands. They chanted slogans such as “Reservation Chor Kursi Chhod” (Reservation Thieves, Quit Your Seats), accusing the government of pursuing anti-reservation policies.
The opposition has alleged that the government is undermining the rights of the poor, backward classes, and Dalits. Alongside the RJD, other opposition parties joined the protest, echoing similar grievances and raising slogans against the government. They criticised the administration for implementing what they termed as “anti-people” policies and urged the state government to revisit its decisions concerning reservation.
In response, leaders of the ruling party dismissed the opposition’s allegations as entirely baseless. They asserted that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to social justice and the reservation policy. According to ruling party members, the opposition is deliberately stirring unnecessary chaos for political gain, thereby disrupting the House’s proceedings. The Chief Minister and his ministers urged the opposition to present their arguments within the Assembly and maintain parliamentary decorum. They emphasised that any objections should be resolved through constructive dialogue rather than through sloganeering and disorder.
As the House session began, opposition MLAs once again raised slogans and demanded answers from the government on various issues. The Speaker repeatedly appealed for calm, but the uproar only intensified. The opposition also sought to hold the government accountable on critical matters such as education, health, unemployment, and inflation. They accused the government of manipulating statistics and failing to deliver tangible results on the ground.
The budget session holds significant importance in the policy-making process of any state, as it outlines the government’s expenditure and plans for the upcoming financial year. In Bihar, this session is particularly crucial, with several new schemes announced, focusing on education, health, and infrastructure. However, the opposition has criticised the budget, claiming it neglects the needs of the general public, particularly the poor and marginalised sections of society.
The opposition’s protests are expected to persist throughout the session. If no consensus is reached between the two sides, further disruptions are likely in the coming days. It remains to be seen how the government will strategise to placate the opposition and ensure the smooth functioning of the budget session. In Bihar’s political landscape, the budget session has evolved beyond a mere financial blueprint, becoming a battleground for the government and opposition to assert their influence.
(The author, Vishwapati, is a senior journalist based in Patna. He may be contacted at vishwapati25@gmail.com)
