New Delhi, July 11, 2026

Bihar's democratic legacy and its role in shaping India's constitutional journey took centre stage as Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan addressed newly elected members of the 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly in Gaya. Speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day Orientation-cum-Training Programme at the Bihar Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (BIPARD), he encouraged legislators to place public service, constitutional principles and good governance at the heart of their responsibilities. Calling Bihar the “Margdarshak” (guide) of India's democratic journey, he said the state's historic contribution continues to inspire the nation's democratic framework.

Highlighting Bihar's ancient republican traditions, particularly Vaishali, the Vice President said India is rightly recognised as the “Mother of Democracy” and reminded legislators that public office is meant for service rather than authority. Appreciating the efforts of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Bihar Legislative Council and the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat, he said such orientation programmes help elected representatives fulfil their constitutional duties more effectively. Stressing Bihar's importance in India's growth story, he said, **“There can be no Viksit Bharat without Viksit Bihar,”** and called upon legislators to promote employment, investment and development that would make the state an attractive destination for opportunities.

Recalling his association with the Sampoorna Kranti movement led by Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan, the Vice President said Bihar had made historic contributions to both the freedom movement and the protection of democracy during the Emergency. Emphasising that governance should rise above political divisions, he remarked, **“Elections are won by votes, but respect is earned through service, not power.”** Reinforcing the importance of constitutional values, he added, **“Ideas may differ on the floor of the Assembly, but the Constitution must remain our common compass.”** He also urged legislators to continuously improve their understanding of parliamentary procedures, committee systems and legislative conventions while embracing Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing and the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) to make legislative functioning more efficient, transparent and citizen-centric.

Concluding his address, the Vice President observed that meaningful public service begins with thoughtful legislative action. He said a thoughtful intervention could change public policy, a well-crafted law could transform generations and a compassionate decision could restore hope to countless citizens. **“The true measure of leadership is not the applause received inside the House, but the confidence inspired among the people outside it,” he said**, while wishing members of the 18th Bihar Legislative Assembly a productive orientation programme and a successful legislative journey. The programme was attended by Bihar Governor Lieutenant General (Retd.) Syed Ata Hasnain, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Speaker Dr. Prem Kumar, Bihar Legislative Council Chairman Awadhesh Narain Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, Deputy Speaker Narendra Narayan Yadav, members of the Bihar Legislature and other dignitaries.