The question hour in the Assembly on Thursday left the JD(U) ministers running for answers.

Not much acquainted with the departments concerned, the ministers — playing stopgap roles in the Assembly for 18 departments handled by chief minister Nitish Kumar — only fumbled against a volley of questions from fellow members. Thursday was the first day in the monsoon session the BJP allowed the question hour to take place without any disruption.

Agriculture minister Narendra Singh found himself in a tight corner while answering the number of vets posted in Araria district. The question was raised by Parmanand Rishidev of the BJP during question hour. The minister said 23 vets were posted. The BJP MLA came up with statistics to prove that the number was actually far less. “Arrey yaar, you have left us and crossed over to the opposition. You have left us in trouble,” Narendra conceded while stressing that he would look into the matter. On Thursday, the “shortcomings” surfaced as not only Narendra but several ministers were also left searching for answers.

Sugarcane development minister Awadhesh Prasad Kushwaha, who was supposed to look after public health and engineering, was asked about samples collected from tubewells for arsenic test in Saran district. Though he replied that the test did not indicate presence of arsenic more than the permissible limit, he was unable to give details. Similarly, industry minister Renu Kushwaha was asked a question on loan given to primary agricultural centres for purchasing foodgrain. She pleaded that the co-operative department was yet to give a reply to her question.