Nitish Kumar starts public interaction programme in Bihar

Patna: After a gap of one year, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday resumed his public interaction programme which aims at solving people's problem on the spot.

After re-assuming the chair of chief minister on February 22, Kumar held his first "Janata Ke Darbar mein Mukhya Mantri" programme on Monday.

Though the venue was same at One Anne Marg, but Kumar's public interaction programme pruned the huge security arrangements which were in place in the days of his predecessor Jitan Ram Manjhi after a shoe hurling incident during one such event.

The visitors were spared from removing their shoes and socks for security checks at the entrance of the venue. Two additional tables in front of the chief minister, which were added during Manjhi's time, were also removed and Kumar had only one table before him.

"I had started this programme nine years back. Its good to be back to job once again," Kumar told reporters after completing the interaction with people.

He said he would study the details of the programme during last nine years and take corrective steps.

Though he is yet to move to One Anne Marg, the bungalow designed for the Chief Minister, as Manjhi is still putting up there, Kumar conducted the interaction programme inside the bungalow which he had earmarked for office purposes earlier.

Kumar later offered flowers at a sapling of Bodhi tree at the venue which he had earlier got planted by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

He sat in the office at One Anne Marg for some time and then left for his present address on 7 Circular Road. Manjhi was in his house but there was interaction between the two.

Earlier, during the press conference Kumar avoided answering questions related to his predecessor and urged mediapersons to "indulge in highlighting positive developments of the state in place of juicy news which they used to get earlier (during Manjhi time)".

When asked about the comment of RJD Vice-President Raghubansh Prasad Singh that Jitan Ram Manjhi should be brought back as Deputy Chief Minister, Kumar did not give much credence to the view by saying "something is said for getting published in newspapers".