Bihar Legislature Houses wear deserted look

Both Houses of the Bihar Legislature wore a deserted look today with a majority of ruling JD(U) ministers and legislators yet to return from Delhi after the 'Adhikar rally'.
Opposition RJD member Bhai Birendra pointed to the absence of a large number of ministers and JD(U) legislators in the House.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is still in Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Finance minister P Chidambaram and Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Starred questions related to sugarcane and minority welfare departments remained unanswered because of absence of ministers Awdesh Kushwaha and Shahid Ali Khan respectively.

In the absence of Industry minister Renu Kumari, Animal Husbandry minister Giriraj Singh answered questions related to her department.
Present in the House were ministers Vijay Chaudhary and P K Shahi, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Bhim Singh.

Chaudhary, who returned last night said "it was a big rally on the important issue of special status for Bihar. All party ministers and legislators will be back soon."
BJP ministers and members were present in both Houses.
Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi shuttled between the two Houses to answer for the government.
Human Resources Development minister P K Shahi told reporters outside the Council "Work of the two Houses has been hampered due to absence of some ministers and legislators of JD(U).