Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Bihar Leaders Urged to Prioritize Jobs Over Renaming Debate
Some Bihar politicians want Bakhtiyarpur to be renamed Nitishpur after Nitish Kumar.
RJD leader Bhai Virendra said leaders should focus instead on unemployment and people leaving Bihar for jobs.
He used a sarcastic example about renaming India after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Minister Santosh Kumar Suman made the original proposal.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has said he personally supports the idea.
However, the Bihar government has not officially proposed the renaming.
Bhai Virendra also said he supports prohibition but questioned how well the law is being enforced.
He alleged that political and police groups are weakening the liquor ban.
RJD MLA Bhai Virendra criticized the demand to rename Bakhtiyarpur as Nitishpur.
Bihar minister Santosh Kumar Suman proposed the renaming to honor former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has personally supported the idea, but no official government proposal exists.
Bhai Virendra said unemployment and migration should receive more political attention in Bihar.
He also questioned the implementation of prohibition and commented on Choudhary’s remarks about becoming chief minister through the BJP.
- Who
- RJD MLA Bhai Virendra, Minister Santosh Kumar Suman, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are central to the debate.
- What
- Political leaders are debating a proposal to rename Bakhtiyarpur as Nitishpur, alongside disputes over unemployment, migration and prohibition.
- When
- The debate intensified on Thursday; the proposal and related remarks were made recently.
- Where
- Bakhtiyarpur and Bihar, India.
- Why
- The proposed renaming would honor Nitish Kumar, while Bhai Virendra says political attention should instead focus on unemployment, migration and the enforcement of prohibition.
Critics of the Renaming Focus
Supporters of the Renaming Proposal
Political priority
Critics of the Renaming Focus
Bhai Virendra argued that leaders should address unemployment and migration instead of debating place names.
Supporters of the Renaming Proposal
Supporters, including Santosh Kumar Suman and Samrat Choudhary in a personal capacity, have backed or supported renaming Bakhtiyarpur as Nitishpur.
Prohibition enforcement
Critics of the Renaming Focus
Bhai Virendra said he supports prohibition but alleged that political and police groups are undermining its enforcement.
Supporters of the Renaming Proposal
The government position cited in the reports is that Bihar’s prohibition policy should continue, despite reported revenue losses of about Rs 20,000 crore.
Chief ministerial appointment
Critics of the Renaming Focus
Bhai Virendra said there was nothing objectionable about Samrat Choudhary’s statement that his chief ministerial appointment resulted from a BJP decision.
Supporters of the Renaming Proposal
The account reflects Choudhary’s view that his appointment came through his party rather than through Nitish Kumar.
- Proposed new name
- Nitishpur
- Current name
- Bakhtiyarpur
- Proposal by
- Bihar Water Resources Minister Santosh Kumar Suman
- Reason cited
- To honor former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who was born in Bakhtiyarpur
- Government status
- No official Bihar government proposal to rename the town currently exists
- Key criticism
- Bhai Virendra said unemployment and migration should take priority
- Prohibition dispute
- Bhai Virendra supported prohibition but questioned its implementation and enforcement