Nitish Kumar’s ‘Vikas Yatra’: Bihar Cabinet Meets in a Village, Ministers Lunch on the Ground Beside Mustard Fields

Patna:
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, known for his unconventional political experiments, created history during his ‘Vikas Yatra’ in 2009 by taking governance directly to the grassroots. In a first-of-its-kind move, the Bihar Cabinet held a formal meeting in a remote village, breaking away from the traditional confines of the Patna Secretariat and sending a strong message of people-centric governance.

Historic Cabinet Meeting in Barbigahi Village

The historic Cabinet meeting was held on February 10, 2009, in Barbigahi village of Ballia block in Begusarai district, about 18 km from Begusarai town. Under the theme ‘Government at Your Doorstep’, Nitish Kumar chose an ordinary village to demonstrate that governance should be accessible, transparent and free from VIP culture.

For the first time in Bihar’s history, a Chief Minister convened a Cabinet meeting outside the state capital. While on the same day Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, inaugurated a railway project in Bihar, it was Nitish Kumar’s bold administrative experiment that captured public attention.

Luxury Bus, Simple Setting

All ministers and senior officials were brought from Patna to the village in a luxury bus, while Nitish Kumar was already present as part of his ongoing development tour. A temporary pandal was set up beside lush mustard fields, creating a rare sight of top policymakers deliberating major decisions amid a rural landscape.

The Cabinet meeting began at 2 pm and was attended by then Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, senior minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, and other Cabinet colleagues. Instead of plush arrangements, ministers sat on ordinary plastic chairs, reinforcing the message of simplicity. During the meeting, 18 important proposals were approved.

A Message of Accountable Governance

Nitish Kumar’s intent was clear—to show that the government is directly accountable to the people. A day before the Cabinet meeting, during his visit to Khagaria, he surprised officials by asking them to publicly share their mobile numbers with citizens, enabling direct communication in case of grievances. The move was widely appreciated as a step towards responsive administration.

Before the Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister also held a Janata Darbar at the same venue, listening to public complaints and demands firsthand.

Ministers Sit on the Ground for Lunch

One of the most striking moments of the day came after the meeting. In keeping with village traditions, the Chief Minister, ministers and senior IAS officers sat on the ground in a row (pangat) and had lunch, just as is customary during rural community feasts. The gesture symbolized humility and a deep connection with rural life.

People from several nearby villages gathered in large numbers to witness the unprecedented event, turning Barbigahi into the center of statewide attention.

A Defining Moment in Bihar’s Political History

The village Cabinet meeting during Nitish Kumar’s Vikas Yatra remains a landmark moment in Indian state politics, often cited as an example of decentralised governance and administrative innovation. By choosing mustard fields over marble halls, Nitish Kumar sent a lasting message—that power belongs not to buildings, but to the people.