The Vice-President of India, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, today inaugurated the two-day Orientation-cum-Training Programme for the Members of the 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD), Gaya Ji, Bihar.
Appreciating the initiative of the Presiding Officers of the Bihar Legislative Assembly and Bihar Legislative Council, along with the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Vice-President said such programmes strengthen democratic institutions by equipping legislators to discharge their constitutional responsibilities effectively.
Thanking the Speaker for organising the programme in Gayaji, he remarked that the initiative had symbolically “brought Patna to GayaJi” Referring to the ancient republican traditions of Vaishali, the Vice-President observed that democracy has deep roots in Bharat, which is rightly regarded as the “Mother of Democracy”.
He described Bihar as the “Margdarshak” of Bharat’s democratic journey and urged legislators to uphold its glorious legacy. Drawing inspiration from the land of Lord Buddha, he said true enlightenment lies in realising that public representatives are elected not to rule, but to serve.
Emphasising that there can be no Viksit Bharat without a Viksit Bihar, he called upon the legislators to work towards creating opportunities that would make Bihar a destination for employment and development and attract migrant workers from other states.
Sharing his association with the Sampoorna Kranti Movement led by Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan said the movement laid the foundation of his political journey. He also recalled Bihar’s pivotal role in both the freedom movement and the movement to safeguard democracy during the Emergency.
Reminding the legislators that elections are fought on party lines but governance must transcend political differences, he said while elections are won through votes, the respect and confidence of the people are earned only through selfless service, not through power.
Every law enacted, every question raised and every debate participated in, he said, has the potential to improve countless lives. The Vice-President said differences of opinion are natural in a democracy, but commitment to the Constitution and public welfare must remain paramount.
“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.
Stressing the importance of Question Hour, Zero Hour and the Business Advisory Committee, he urged members to ensure the smooth and productive conduct of legislative business, observing that these parliamentary devices provide individual legislators an important opportunity to raise issues concerning their constituents beyond party considerations.
Emphasising the importance of continuous learning, Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan encouraged legislators to prepare thoroughly before attending House proceedings and develop a sound understanding of legislative procedures, committee systems and parliamentary conventions.
He also called upon members to embrace emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing and digital legislative initiatives like NeVA to make legislative functioning more efficient, transparent and citizen-centric.
The Vice-President said politics demands patience and perseverance. Referring to former Bihar Chief Minister Shri Nitish Kumar’s political journey, he observed that despite once heading a government that lasted only seven days, he went on to become Bihar’s longest-serving Chief Minister.
Comparing politics to Test cricket, he said success comes through patience, perseverance and choosing the right opportunities. Concluding his address, the Vice-President said a thoughtful intervention can change a policy, a well-crafted law can transform generations and a compassionate decision can restore hope to countless citizens.
“The true measure of leadership is not the applause received inside the House, but the confidence inspired among the people outside it,” he said, wishing all members of the 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly a fruitful orientation and a successful legislative journey.
The Governor of Bihar, Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, the Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Samrat Choudhary, the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Dr. Prem Kumar, the Chairman of the Bihar Legislative Council, Shri Awadhesh Narain Singh, the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Shri Vijay Kumar Choudhary, the Deputy Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Shri Narendra Narayan Yadav, Members of the Bihar Legislature and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.