The Bihar Assembly witnessed a stormy session on Wednesday as the Opposition protested over the drought-like situation in several districts, while the ruling NDA defended the government's preparedness. The session also saw sharp political exchanges after a BJP MLA mocked Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav for his absence from the House. Amid the heated debate, the Assembly passed the Bihar Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026, paving the way for changes in the state's higher education framework.

CM Assures Relief for Farmers

The issue of inadequate rainfall and its impact on agriculture dominated the proceedings. During Question Hour, even ruling alliance legislators raised concerns over irregular electricity supply for irrigation, stating that farmers in several districts were struggling to water their crops due to inconsistent power availability.

Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the government had taken note of the rainfall deficit in many parts of Bihar and was closely monitoring the situation.

He informed the House that efforts were being made to ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for irrigation from 6 am to 7 pm, enabling farmers to irrigate their fields without disruption.

The Chief Minister further directed district magistrates to assess drought conditions and submit detailed reports. Based on these reports, the government will initiate relief measures, including diesel subsidies for farmers in areas officially declared drought-affected.

He assured legislators that the state government would act promptly to protect crops and minimise farmers' losses if rainfall remained below normal.

Political Barbs Over Tejashwi's Absence

The Assembly also witnessed political sparring after BJP MLA Baidyanath Prasad questioned the absence of Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.

In a sarcastic remark, the BJP legislator said Tejashwi appeared to be "mediating the US-Iran conflict" instead of attending the Assembly and contributing to discussions on Bihar's development.

The Opposition objected to the remarks, but the exchange added to the already charged atmosphere inside the House.

Private Universities Bill Gets Assembly Approval

The House later passed the Bihar Private Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2026 after a debate involving both the ruling alliance and Opposition members.

Higher Education Minister Sanjay Singh Tiger introduced the Bill, saying it was aimed at strengthening higher education opportunities within Bihar.

AIMIM MLA Akhtarul Iman expressed concern that the amendment should not favour private institutions at the expense of economically weaker students. RJD MLA Rahul Sharma also argued that student welfare must remain the primary focus while expanding private universities.

Replying to the debate, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said thousands of students from Bihar were currently studying in private universities outside the state, including institutions such as Amity University and Lovely Professional University.

He said the amendment was intended to create more quality higher education opportunities within Bihar so that students would not have to migrate to other states.

Opposition Protests Over Panchayat Tax

The Opposition also staged protests over the issue of proposed tax collection by panchayats. Left legislators argued that additional taxes would place an unnecessary burden on poor and rural families.

Opposition parties demanded a discussion through an adjournment motion, but after the proposal was rejected, MLAs entered the well of the House and raised slogans.

Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar repeatedly appealed to members to return to their seats. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the House would have an opportunity to debate the matter once the relevant legislation was introduced and invited the Opposition to bring amendments during discussions.

Debate Over Gambling Law Continues

The discussion also referred to the Bihar Gambling Prohibition Bill, 2026, which had been passed a day earlier.

The new legislation seeks to strengthen action against both traditional and online gambling by expanding legal provisions to include organisers, financiers and digital operators.

The law provides for freezing financial transactions linked to online gambling and imposes stricter penalties, including imprisonment for repeat offenders.

Council Witnesses Heated Exchanges

In the Bihar Legislative Council, RJD MLC Sunil Singh raised concerns over increasing drug abuse and criticised the government's handling of narcotics.

His remarks mentioning temples and religious places triggered protests from BJP members, leading to a heated verbal exchange inside the Council.

Later in the day, BJP MLC Anamika Singh and RJD MLC Munni Rajak were involved in a heated argument outside Opposition leader Rabri Devi's chamber.

With drought concerns, political confrontation and key legislative business dominating proceedings, the Monsoon Session continues to witness intense debates over governance, agriculture and public policy in Bihar.

Tiwari announced his resignation on Thursday, ending a long association with the Lalu Prasad Yadav-led party. His exit comes at a politically significant time, with Bihar preparing for Assembly elections and opposition parties working to consolidate their strategies.

In his resignation statement, Tiwari alleged that there was no longer any respect for committed and loyal party workers. He claimed that despite repeatedly raising concerns before senior leaders, including RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, his grievances were not addressed.

He also alleged that Tejashwi Yadav was surrounded by people who had weakened the party from within, comparing them to "termites" that had gradually damaged the organisation. According to Tiwari, continuing in the party after repeated humiliation was no longer possible.

Mrityunjay Tiwari has been regarded as one of the prominent public faces of the RJD for more than a decade. Appointed as the party's spokesperson and media in-charge in 2014, he regularly defended the party's position on political issues and represented it across television debates and public platforms. Party workers also credit him with playing an active role in connecting young voters with the organisation.

Reflecting on his association with the party, Tiwari said he had stood with the RJD even during difficult political periods and had fulfilled every responsibility entrusted to him. However, he maintained that the current organisational atmosphere no longer offered space for workers who had remained committed over the years.

The resignation has triggered fresh speculation over internal dissatisfaction within the RJD, although the party has not issued a detailed official response on Tiwari's allegations. Political observers believe the development could become a talking point as Bihar's electoral battle gathers momentum in the coming months.

Reports have also suggested that some senior RJD leaders attempted to persuade Tiwari to reconsider his decision. However, he reportedly remained firm and has not indicated whether he plans to join another political party.

Tiwari's political journey began during his student years before he joined the RJD, where he gradually emerged as one of its most recognisable spokespersons. Over the years, he became a familiar face in Bihar's political discourse, frequently articulating the party's stand on governance, elections and state politics.

His departure comes at a sensitive time for the opposition party, which is expected to play a central role in the upcoming Assembly elections. Any signs of internal discord are likely to attract attention as rival parties intensify their campaigns.

For now, Mrityunjay Tiwari has not announced his next political move. Whether he remains independent or joins another party is expected to become clearer in the coming weeks as Bihar's political landscape continues to evolve.

The Bihar government has taken a significant administrative decision regarding the security cover and official residence of the family of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, amid an ongoing dispute over the government bungalow at 10 Circular Road in Patna. The decision includes withdrawal of Z+ security for senior leaders and revision of security arrangements for other family members.

According to officials, the state government has also issued a fresh notice directing the Lalu family to vacate the official residence within 15 days, as the bungalow has been allotted to a state minister. The developments have intensified the political and administrative confrontation over government accommodation and security protocols in Bihar.

Security cover revised

Under the revised security arrangement, both Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi will no longer receive Z-plus security. Instead, they will be provided with a scaled-down but structured protection system that includes escort vehicles, bulletproof cars, and a contingent of Bihar Police personnel.

Tej Pratap Yadav’s Y-category security has also been withdrawn, and he will now be provided with a single bodyguard. However, Tejashwi Yadav’s security cover remains unchanged, and he continues to receive Y-plus protection along with escort arrangements.

Officials clarified that while the level of security has been adjusted, protection for all members will continue based on threat assessment and standard protocol.

Eviction notice over bungalow

The dispute centers around the government bungalow at 10 Circular Road in Patna, where the Lalu family has been residing since 2005. The Bihar government has issued a 15-day deadline for vacating the premises, stating that the residence has been officially allotted to a state minister.

The Building Construction Department had earlier served notices in May and again reiterated the directive after the family did not vacate the property. Officials also confirmed that alternative government accommodation has already been allotted to Rabri Devi at 39 Harding Road.

Political reactions intensify

The decision has triggered sharp political reactions from both sides. Rabri Devi has publicly challenged the government’s eviction order, stating that the family will not vacate the bungalow voluntarily. She questioned the timing and intent of the decision, alleging political pressure behind the move.

Responding to the controversy, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary defended the government’s action, stating that no individual has a hereditary claim over official residences. He emphasized that government accommodation is meant for public service and must be vacated once reassigned.

Security arrangements explained

As per revised guidelines, Lalu Prasad Yadav will now receive a combination of BSAP house guards, Patna Police personnel, escort vehicles, and a bulletproof car. Rabri Devi will continue to receive a larger security detail, including female bodyguards and escort support.

Officials said the changes are part of routine security reassessment procedures and are not linked to any political considerations. However, the timing of the decision has added to the ongoing political debate in the state.

Background of the dispute

The issue has been ongoing for several months, with repeated notices issued by the state government asking the family to vacate the bungalow. The residence, commonly referred to as Rabri Residence, has been a political symbol for the family since Rabri Devi’s tenure as Chief Minister.

The government maintains that the allotment of government residences is governed by rules and must be followed strictly, regardless of political status or past occupation.