Proceedings in the Bihar Legislative Council descended into chaos for a second straight day of the Budget Session on Tuesday, ending with the suspension and eviction of all Opposition members after they staged persistent protests demanding an apology from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar over remarks directed at Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi.The uproar began soon after the House assembled, with members from the Rashtriya Janata Dal and allied parties rising from their seats and moving into the Well of the House. They raised slogans and held placards, insisting that Kumar withdraw and apologise for what they described as derogatory and personal comments made against Rabri Devi during an earlier exchange in the legislature. The Chair repeatedly urged members to return to their seats and allow Question Hour to proceed, but the din continued.
As disruptions mounted, the Chairman invoked House rules to suspend the protesting members for the remainder of the day. Marshals were called in to escort them out after they refused to leave voluntarily. Visuals from the House showed Opposition legislators shouting slogans as they were led out, while treasury benches accused them of deliberately stalling the Budget Session to gain political mileage.
The confrontation follows sharp exchanges between Kumar and Opposition members during discussions linked to governance and law and order. Rabri Devi, a former Chief Minister and senior figure in the Rashtriya Janata Dal, has been a vocal critic of the government’s handling of administrative and economic matters. Opposition leaders contend that the Chief Minister’s remarks crossed the line of parliamentary decorum and were aimed at belittling the Leader of the Opposition.
Treasury bench members rejected that characterisation, asserting that the Chief Minister’s statements were taken out of context and formed part of a political rebuttal. They accused the Opposition of seeking to paralyse the legislature at a crucial juncture when budgetary demands and departmental allocations are under consideration.
The Budget Session is a key period in the legislative calendar, during which the state government presents its financial roadmap for the coming year. Disruptions at this stage can delay debates on expenditure, policy priorities and development schemes. Senior officials indicated that the government remains keen to push through its legislative agenda, including discussion on fiscal allocations for infrastructure, welfare programmes and sectoral reforms.
Political observers note that tensions between the ruling coalition and the Opposition have been simmering for months, particularly after realignments in the state’s political landscape. Nitish Kumar, who has shifted alliances more than once in his long political career, currently heads a government supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Rashtriya Janata Dal, once an ally in a previous coalition arrangement, now occupies the Opposition benches and has sharpened its attack on the government.
Rabri Devi, who has served multiple terms as Chief Minister in the past, remains a central figure in the Opposition’s strategy. Her party argues that the government has failed to address issues ranging from unemployment to law and order, while the ruling side maintains that it has prioritised infrastructure growth, road connectivity and social welfare measures.
Tuesday’s events mark the second consecutive day of disruption in the Legislative Council, the upper House of the state legislature. On the previous day, similar protests forced adjournments as Opposition members insisted that the Chief Minister clarify his remarks. Repeated adjournments had already curtailed legislative business, prompting warnings from the Chair that disciplinary action could follow if order was not restored.
Parliamentary practice allows presiding officers to suspend members who defy instructions or obstruct proceedings. Such measures, though not uncommon in state legislatures and in Parliament, underscore the fragile balance between protest and procedure in India’s political system. Analysts point out that while protest is a recognised democratic tool, prolonged disruption often reduces the space for substantive debate on policy and governance.
Outside the House, leaders from the Rashtriya Janata Dal accused the government of attempting to silence dissent. They said their demand was straightforward: a public apology from the Chief Minister to uphold the dignity of the Leader of the Opposition and the House. Government representatives countered that the Opposition was avoiding discussion on financial proposals and development initiatives by resorting to theatrics.
The standoff also reflects broader electoral calculations. Bihar remains politically competitive, with alliances shifting and parties seeking to consolidate their support bases ahead of future contests. Legislative confrontations can serve to mobilise cadres and sharpen narratives, particularly when they involve prominent figures such as Rabri Devi and Nitish Kumar.