PATNA: Legislators of all four constituents of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar on Monday raised their hands in favour of CM Nitish Kumar’s decision of liquor ban and also unanimously resolved to support the state government’s move to strictly enforce total prohibition across the state.
The ruling NDA has four constituents—BJP, JD(U), HAM (S) and VIP – in the state. The legislators of all four parties were attending a meeting of the NDA legislators’ party at the Assembly’s central hall to decide strategies for floor management in both houses of the state legislature during the ongoing winter session which began on Monday.
Nitish, while addressing the legislators of all NDA allies, spoke in details over his government’s decision of total prohibition and also explained why the liquor ban was necessary for social development of people. While the CM was recounting the benefits of total prohibition, the legislators raised their hands in support of the liquor ban. They also supported the state government’s decision to strictly enforce the provisions of liquor ban.
Nitish, in his speech, also attacked some opposition leaders who were trying to make the prohibition a political agenda in the garb of recent hooch deaths, which mainly occurred due to consumption of poisonous liquors.
The meeting was called mainly to decide floor management strategies for the winter session, but the CM mainly spoke on the issues related to total prohibition, sources in the NDA said.
The five-day winter session of Bihar legislature, which began on Monday, would continue till December 3.
The ruling NDA’s total strength in the 242-member assembly is 126. One seat in 243-member assembly is currently vacant following death of VIP’s Bochahan MLA Musafir Paswan.
Of total 126 NDA MLAs, 74 are of the BJP, JD(U) (45), HAM(S) (4), VIP (3) and Independent (Sumit Kumar Singh) –One.
Sources said, some of the legislators of NDA allies also raised issues of their respective constituencies and urged the CM to take necessary steps to resolve them.
The CM reportedly told the legislators that they can meet him with the issues of their constituencies.
The NDA legislators’ party meet, held at the assembly’s central hall, was also addressed by Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad (BJP), Deputy CM Renu Devi, parliamentary affairs minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, HAM(S) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi and VIP chief Mukesh Sahni.
