Viksit Bharat needs Viksit Bihar, says VP Radhakrishnan at Bihar MLA training
Synopsis
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan used the inauguration of a Bihar MLA training programme in Gaya to deliver a pointed message: India's development ambitions hinge on Bihar's rise. Calling the state the 'Margdarshak' of India's democracy and invoking Vaishali's ancient republican traditions, he urged legislators to make Bihar a destination for jobs — not a source of migrant labour.
Key Takeaways
Radhakrishnan inaugurated a two-day training programme for 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly members at BIPARD, Gaya on 11 July .
He declared there can be no Viksit Bharat without a Viksit Bihar , urging legislators to attract investment and reverse out-migration.
Radhakrishnan called Bihar the 'Margdarshak' of India's democratic journey, citing Vaishali's ancient republican traditions.
He emphasised the constitutional importance of Question Hour , Zero Hour , and the Business Advisory Committee for effective legislative functioning.
The programme was organised with PRIDE and the Lok Sabha Secretariat ; attended by Governor Syed Ata Hasnain , CM Samrat Choudhary , and Speaker Prem Kumar .
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan on Saturday, 11 July inaugurated a two-day Orientation-cum-Training Programme for members of the 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD) in Gaya, asserting that a developed India cannot be achieved without a developed Bihar. The programme, organised in collaboration with PRIDE and the Lok Sabha Secretariat, aims to equip newly elected legislators with the tools to discharge their constitutional responsibilities effectively.
Key Message to Legislators
Addressing the gathering, Radhakrishnan stressed that while differences of opinion are natural in a democracy, commitment to the Constitution and public welfare must remain non-negotiable. 'Ideas may differ on the floor of the Assembly, but the Constitution must remain our common compass,' he said, adding that healthy debate strengthens democracy while constructive cooperation advances the nation.
He underscored the significance of parliamentary instruments such as Question Hour, Zero Hour, and the Business Advisory Committee, urging members to use these mechanisms to raise constituent issues beyond party lines and ensure productive legislative business.
Bihar as Democracy's Torchbearer
Drawing on Bihar's ancient republican heritage, the Vice President referenced the traditions of Vaishali — widely regarded as one of the earliest republics in recorded history — to argue that democracy has deep roots in Bharat, which he described as the 'Mother of Democracy.' He called Bihar the 'Margdarshak' (guide) of India's democratic journey and urged legislators to uphold that legacy.
Inspired by the land of Lord Buddha, he reminded elected representatives that public office is a mandate to serve, not to rule — a theme he wove through his address as a call to selfless governance.
Bihar's Role in India's Development Vision
Reiterating his central argument, Radhakrishnan called upon legislators to work towards making Bihar a destination for employment and development — one capable of attracting migrant workers back from other states rather than sending them out. The remark carries particular weight given Bihar's historically high rates of out-migration driven by limited local economic opportunity.
He also appreciated the initiative of the Presiding Officers of both the Bihar Legislative Assembly and the Bihar Legislative Council in organising the programme, noting that the event had symbolically 'brought Patna to Gaya.'
Dignitaries Present
The inauguration was attended by Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar, and Bihar Legislative Council Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh, among other dignitaries, according to an official statement.
The two-day programme signals a broader push to professionalise legislative conduct in Bihar at a time when the state's political and economic trajectory is under national scrutiny ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Not a regional aspiration. That framing matters politically: Bihar's chronic out-migration and infrastructure gaps have long been treated as state-level problems, not Union-level priorities. By tying 'Viksit Bharat' explicitly to 'Viksit Bihar', the Vice President lends constitutional weight to demands for greater central investment in the state. The timing — a training programme for freshly elected MLAs — also signals an institutional effort to raise legislative quality at a moment when Bihar's governance record remains mixed. Whether the rhetoric translates into measurable policy attention from the Centre is the question Bihar's citizens will be watching.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Bihar MLA training programme inaugurated by VP Radhakrishnan?
It was a two-day Orientation-cum-Training Programme for members of the 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly, inaugurated on 11 July at BIPARD in Gaya. The programme was organised in collaboration with PRIDE and the Lok Sabha Secretariat to help legislators discharge their constitutional duties more effectively.
What did Vice President Radhakrishnan mean by 'no Viksit Bharat without Viksit Bihar'?
Radhakrishnan argued that India's broader development goals cannot be realised unless Bihar itself develops economically and institutionally. He called on Bihar's legislators to create employment opportunities locally so the state becomes a destination for workers rather than a source of out-migration.
Why did Radhakrishnan call Bihar the 'Margdarshak' of India's democracy?
He referenced Bihar's ancient republican traditions, particularly those of Vaishali, one of the earliest known republics in history, to argue that the state has historically guided India's democratic evolution. He urged current legislators to uphold that legacy.
Who attended the inauguration of the Bihar legislative training in Gaya?
The event was attended by Bihar Governor Lt Gen (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar, Bihar Legislative Council Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh, and other dignitaries, according to an official statement.
What parliamentary tools did the Vice President highlight for Bihar's legislators?
Radhakrishnan specifically highlighted Question Hour, Zero Hour, and the Business Advisory Committee as critical mechanisms for legislators to raise constituent issues beyond party considerations and ensure the smooth conduct of legislative business.
