Cong to strive for Bihar’s growth: Minister

PATNA: Bihar Congress president and education and information technology minister Ashok Chaudhary on Sunday thanked the people of the state for giving a landslide mandate to the grand alliance in the assembly polls and said his party's ministers and legislators will strive hard to live up to the expectation of everybody.
“We thank the people for giving a landslide verdict to the grand alliance at the hustings.All Congress legislators and ministers will strive hard to live up to everyone’s expectation,” he told reporters after review meeting of the Congress’ performance at the election.
Congress bagged 27 of 41 seats it contested in alliance with RJD and JD(U). The grand alliance swept the polls winning a staggering 178 seats to form government.
As per a formula worked out, all three constituents were rewarded one ministerial berth against five MLAs with Congress getting five ministerial berths against its 27 seats though only four ministers have been included in the Nitish Kumar ministry so far.
Chaudhary, who has been made education minister in the Nitish Kumar government, said the grand alliance government has begun well with the chief minister fulfilling one of his poll promises to ban liquor in Bihar from April 1, 2016.
“The chief minister has kept his word on banning liquor in Bihar in the face of revenue loss of Rs 4,000 crore a year,” Chaudhary said.
He said the state government also proposed to provide Wi-Fi facility in all educational institutions in the state.
Referring to organisational matters, Chaudhary said party leaders, including MLAs and MLCs, attended the review meeting to take stock of the Congress’ performance.
It was decided in the meeting that all ministers from Congress will spend a day on weekly basis at Sadaquat Ashram, the party headquarters, to listen to the problems of fellow party workers and common man, while the legislators will do so one every fortnight.
Chaudhary said the party has decided to expand its base at the grassroots level for which district unit chiefs and legislators have been asked to make recommendation for block unit presidents.
“Congress will also carry out membership drive till December 31 in which ministers and legislators will take part,” he said adding that the party will take action against those leaders who had worked against the grand alliance’s interests during assembly polls.