Patna: There was hardly any celebration as the NDA government in Bihar completed a year after Nitish Kumar walked out of the Grand Alliance.

On Thursday, chief minister Nitish Kumar and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi had shared the stage at a government function. Sushil had made a fleeting reference during his speech. "It's an auspicious day. One year of our government is complete," he said. But Nitish preferred to remain mum. In fact the first to "congratulate Nitish chacha" was Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. "A year ago Nitish Kumar betrayed the people's mandate. I congratulate him. One scan after another is taking place and criminals are getting a free run in the state," he told The Telegraph on Thursday.

Health minister Mangal Pandey declared that despite "hurdles created by the Opposition", the first year of NDA has been fruitful. "In my department, it has resulted in inauguration or laying of foundation stones of projects worth around Rs 1,800 crore. There is better availability of medicines in government hospitals and new medical and dental colleges are being opened up," he said, stressing that both the central and state governments are working together for Bihar's development.

A year ago when Nitish had walked out, he had coined the phrase "double engine government", meaning a government with the same configuration in Bihar as well as at the Centre.

However, things have not worked out the way Nitish wanted it to. "The Centre has not been generous with funds to Bihar. When we asked for over Rs 7,000 crore on account of destruction caused by floods, the Centre sent us a little over Rs 1,200 crore," remarked a JDU minister, pointing out that quite a few projects in the PM's economic package were still on paper. Union minister Nitin Gadkari's move to shift the blame on the state government on its inability to provide land has not helped.

The NDA-I regime, from 2005 to 2010, was regarded as the golden period of governance in the state with impetus on law and order and infrastructure growth. But the NDA II government, from 2010 to 2013, was marred by growing mistrust between allies, leading to its collapse in 2013. The NDA-III government has been even more embroiled in controversies. Scams like Srijan, Bihar School Examination Board, toilet construction and shelter homes have repeatedly put the government on the back foot.

Perception is gaining ground that Nitish is losing control over the state's law and order situation, that police high-handedness in enforcing prohibition and sand scarcity have contributed to the hostile situation for the NDA regime that is reflected in the bypoll results.

With Lok Sabha elections round the corner, internal rift has been surfacing again and again over who the big brother is and how many seats the alliance partners will each contest. "It makes the NDA alliance uneasy and hits the government's performance. But I believe the BJP and JDU know that they have no other option but to stick it out together," said a JDU minister not wanting to go on record.