A viral video has surfaced showing women and children swiftly grabbing flower pots arranged outside the Circuit House in Bihar’s Buxar district, moments after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s convoy departed. The pots, set up for his grand welcome as part of the “Pragati Yatra,” were taken before authorities could react. Sources say they were rented from a local nursery through the municipal council.

Adding to the turmoil, women from slum areas staged a protest against the CM, accusing him of seeking votes without delivering real progress. They declared their intent to boycott the upcoming elections, forcing the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to intervene. Some residents also alleged that recent development work was purely cosmetic, done only for the CM’s visit.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Amar Jaiswal slammed the administration’s “dictatorial” approach, crediting PM Narendra Modi for Nitish Kumar’s rise in politics.

Key projects launched amid controversy

During his visit, the CM inaugurated a ₹202 crore water supply project to deliver clean Ganga water to 36,760 households across 51 villages and 20 panchayats, a vital step for the arsenic-affected Diara region. He also unveiled a model Panchayat Bhavan in Simri, a new Vishwamitra Hotel, a ₹13 crore project at Ramrekha Ghat, and a 12-room guest house.

Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Sinha and other ministers were present at the event, overshadowed by protests and public frustration.