PM lauds Nitish’s governance record, praises people of Bihar

Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday wrote a three-page letter to Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on the occasion of Bihar Diwas – the first such letter from Modi to Nitish since 2014.

Bihar Diwas commemorates the creation of the state in 1912, when it was carved out of the erstwhile Bengal Presidency.In the letter, Modi praised Nitish, whose JD(U) is an ally of the BJP-led govt at the Centre, and credited him with bringing major change to the state through a sustained focus on governance and social welfare.“Under your leadership, Bihar has witnessed a major transformation. Your personal commitment to good governance and the welfare of all sections of society has started a new stream of trust, stability and progress in the state,” Modi wrote.

He also underlined the Centre’s role in Bihar’s development and said his govt had been fortunate to contribute to the state’s progress. “I consider myself fortunate that I and my government have got the opportunity to accelerate Bihar's development journey,” he said.Nitish, Bihar’s longest-serving CM, later shared a screenshot of the three-page letter on his social media accounts.The PM used the message not only to praise Nitish but also to highlight the Union govt’s development record in Bihar.

He referred to the construction of 40 lakh houses and the distribution of 1.2 crore gas connections in the state, linking Bihar’s future to the broader “Viksit Bharat” vision for 2047.Modi also devoted a significant part of the letter to praising the people of Bihar and their contribution in India and abroad. Writing in Hindi, he said Bihar’s people had built a distinct identity through “hard work, honesty and talent” and had made an incomparable contribution in fields ranging from social service and industry to education, art and music.He said people from Bihar carry the state’s cultural richness and values wherever they go. Recalling his time as Gujarat chief minister, Modi said he had closely seen the contribution of Biharis to Gujarat’s development, especially in Surat. He also referred to a major event held in Surat when Bihar marked 100 years of its formation.The PM further said he had seen Bihar’s culture thrive in countries such as Mauritius, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, where people with roots in the state had preserved their traditions.

He cited Chhath as the strongest example of Bihar’s growing global cultural identity, noting that the festival is now celebrated enthusiastically across the world.Modi also highlighted steps taken by the Centre to promote Bihar’s local products and heritage. He said the National Makhana Board had been set up to boost products such as makhana and create new opportunities for farmers and entrepreneurs in the state.

He also referred to efforts to give Nalanda University a new identity, saying this was helping revive Bihar’s ancient knowledge tradition.On infrastructure, Modi said Bihar had made “remarkable progress” in connectivity. He pointed to the expansion of rail and air links, the inauguration of a new terminal at Patna airport last year, improved air connectivity in Darbhanga and the construction of a new terminal building in Purnia.

He also recalled the public enthusiasm during the inauguration of the Aunta-Simaria bridge project.The timing and tone of the letter have triggered political speculation in Bihar. Many are viewing it as a formal acknowledgement of a major transition, coming just as Nitish prepares to shift from state politics to a national role in the Rajya Sabha.Political observers say the emotional tenor of the letter appears aimed at reassuring Nitish’s support base that he is being elevated with respect rather than pushed aside. The message is being read by many as a signal of a smooth transfer of power in Bihar. With Nitish potentially moving to Delhi, speculation has intensified that the BJP may install its own CM in the state for the first time, with Nitish’s son Nishant Kumar possibly being considered for a role such as deputy CM.