WATCH | Bihar CM Nitish Kumar mocks Rabri Devi during council session, asks ‘E bechari ko kuch aata hai?’ sparks outrage

In a heated session of the Bihar Legislative Council on March 25, 2025, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar engaged in a contentious exchange with Leader of Opposition and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi.

The confrontation erupted after RJD MLCs entered the House wearing green badges with slogans alleging that quotas for deprived castes—previously increased by the Tejashwi government—were “stolen” following the BJP's return to power, Hindustan Times reported.

A video clip shared by Press Trust of India (PTI) on X shows Nitish Kumar dismissing Rabri Devi's statements while laughing with other ministers. At one point, Kumar mockingly said “E bechari ko kuch aata hai?” (Does this poor woman even know anything?) He continued, “Party to unke husband ka tha, e bechari to aise hi aa gayi.” (The party belonged to her husband; she just came in like that)

Watch video here :

This incident has drawn sharp criticism from opposition members and other leaders, who viewed Kumar's comments as dismissive and disrespectful towards a senior female leader.​

According to TOI, this is not the first time Nitish Kumar has targeted Rabri Devi in the assembly. Similar exchanges occurred earlier in March, where Kumar questioned her understanding of political matters and referenced her appointment as Chief Minister in 1997 following Lalu Prasad Yadav's resignation amid corruption charges.

The repeated confrontations between Nitish Kumar and Rabri Devi highlight the escalating political tensions in Bihar, especially concerning issues like reservation policies and governance. The altercation also underscores the deepening rift between Bihar's political factions and raises concerns about the tone and decorum of political debates in the state.

As the state approaches the assembly elections later this year, such exchanges showcase the deepening rift between the ruling coalition and the opposition, raising concerns about the nature of political discourse in the state.