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| Chief minister Nitish Kumar chairs the NDA workers’ darbar in Patna on Monday. Telegraph picture |
Patna, July 23: Chief minister Nitish Kumar was back holding the NDA workers’ darbar today after a gap of three months that witnessed a bitter war of words between the coalition partners, the BJP and the JD(U).
Addressing NDA workers at the darbar, held on the fourth Monday of every month, Nitish swore by the coalition dharma (principle). “This is a coalition government. We have to work in tandem with each other. We have been running one of the best coalition governments in the country. The people of the state have given mandate to the NDA,” he told the workers.
Last month, Nitish had postponed the monthly event on the pretext of renovating the darbar. Political observers, however, said the actual reason behind the postponement was the bitterness between BJP and JD(U) workers in the wake of the war of words between their respective leaders.
The workers, however, said neither any NDA office bearer nor the chief minister or his deputy uttered a word during on the stand-off between the alliance partners following Nitish’s prescription for a secular prime ministerial candidate of the NDA in the 2014 general elections.
The seven-year alliance hit the rock bottom after the chief minster had said he would support the secular candidate for the post of Prime Minister in the 2014 general elections.On the reasons leading to the rescheduling of the NDA workers’ meet, state BJP chief C.P. Thakur said: “There were differences in the coalition and that’s why NDA workers meet could not be held.” However, co-operative minister Ramadhar Singh said: “There is neither any difference in the coalition nor are the workers upset. Everything is fine in the coalition.”
The workers of Munger division, comprising Munger, Lakhisarai, Jamui and Sheikhpura districts, complained about corruption in implementation of welfare and development schemes. “Workers put up local problems which they face on a day-to-day basis. Workers raised the issue of bribe being sought by officials who just not only heed to their grievances but also don’t pay respect to the workers,” said Falguni Prasad Yadav, a former MLA from Chakai in Jamui.
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