A special meeting of the Bihar Legislative Council was held on Friday in Patna College as a part of its centenary celebrations.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar, deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi and four ministers were among 116 members and ex-members of the House, who attended the meeting.

Legislative council chairman Tarakant Jha presided over the meeting. The inaugural session of the Upper House was held on January 20, 1913, and 40 members from Bihar and Odisha had attended. It was presided over by Lt Governor Charles Stuart Bailey.

Jha said as per Article 170 of the Constitution, a special session of the House cannot be held without the Governor’s address. Nitish Kumar, opposition leader Gulam Gaus; senior-most MLC Ramashraya Prasad Singh, who was elected to the Upper House for the first time in 1962, and other
ministers spoke on the occasion. They highlighted the “glorious” history of the council and its contributions to Bihar.

Sources said there was no political partisanship at the meeting as leaders from all political stressed on the need to strengthen the institution. Nitish Kumar also released a souvenir called Dharohar and five other books, including one  dedicated to revolutionary leader Batukeshwar Dutt.