Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and education minister Brishen Patel in Patna on Monday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, earlier dissatisfied with the attitude of some of his colleagues, on Monday won over many by changing their seating order at his weekly janata durbar.

In a departure from his predecessor Nitish Kumar’s style, Manjhi made his ministerial colleagues sit in a row with him. It was the first time the ministers sat with the chief minister at the weekly janata durbar.

The durbar was introduced by his predecessor Nitish in 2006. But throughout Nitish’s rule, the chief minister would sit separately while his ministers sat with the secretaries concerned. Manjhi continued with this arrangement till he tweaked the sitting arrangement on Monday. In the process, the chief minister, apparently, won the heart of many a cabinet colleague.

“Through the new seating arrangement the chief minister has treated us as his equals. It is a welcome gesture. We appreciate it,” education minister Brishen Patel said, breaking into praises for Manjhi.

There were some initial hiccups though. Like, when minority welfare minister Naushad Alam arrived at the durbar. Unaware of the new seating arrangement, he headed straight for his chair where his department’s principal secretary Amir Subhani was sitting. The minister’s chair was not there. Subhani felt embarrassed seeing the minister standing near him. He instantly vacated his chair for the minister and moved to where the chief minister’s secretariat officials were sitting.

Subsequently, Subhani asked an official to apprise the minister of the new sitting arrangement. Soon, an official went up to Alam and requested him to move to the chair earmarked for him near the chief minister. Labour resources minister Dulalchand Goswami, social welfare minister Lesi Singh, health minister Ram Dhani Singh and education minister Brishen Patel, were already sitting near Manjhi. Soon, Khan took his place in the same row as the chief minister.

Another minister who was heading towards his earlier chair, near a secretary, was information technology minister Shahid Ali Khan. However, on Manjhi’s instruction, secretariat staff guided Shahid to the right place.

The new arrangement seems to suit all. Earlier they used to get bogged down with too many applications from visitors. Some complainants would even shout at the ministers, embarrassing them in front of their secretaries. Many a time they had lost their patience and had to call security guards when things went out of control.

Earlier, a minister had to go through at least 150 to 200 applications at every janata durbar. On Monday they were hardly bothered with the applications.

A first-time minister said on condition of anonymity: “Ever since, I have become minister, it was the first time I got to enjoy my tea in peace. I really like the behaviour of this chief minister. It should have been done much earlier. Ministers should not be treated like objects.”

It’s not clear if the public too are happy. Vijay Kumar of Samastipur thought Manjhi would forward his grievance to the labour minister but he was told the labour secretary would look into his query. He had no idea the minister was sitting so close to the chief minister, until this reporter pointed it out to him.