Patna, Sep 18 (IANS) Amid ongoing political discussions in Bihar and the debate surrounding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the Janata Dal (United) on Friday organised a one-day orientation programme for its MLAs and Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) in Patna.
The programme is being held at the Karpoori Auditorium at the JD(U) state headquarters in the presence of the party's national president and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
According to JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, the programme aims to strengthen the legislative understanding of the party's elected representatives.
He said the session would focus on legislative responsibilities, the law-making process and ways of raising constituency-specific and public-interest issues in the House using factual information.
A question-and-answer session with experts is also part of the event.
The orientation will cover subjects including the functioning of the legislature and its committees, the law-making process, recent legislative changes, the state budget, and Bihar's economy and finances.
Party representatives will also be briefed on parliamentary procedures and the functioning of the House so that they can effectively present issues concerning their constituencies.
The JD(U) said emphasis would be placed on raising matters related to public welfare and constituency concerns in a fact-based manner.
The programme comes against the backdrop of an ongoing debate over the Uniform Civil Code in Bihar. JD(U) national spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad has said the party will study the provisions of any UCC proposal once the draft is made public and will subsequently hold discussions on the issue.
Earlier, JD(U) MLA Shyam Rajak had said that the UCC would not be implemented in Bihar. The party indicated that its final position would be determined after the draft was released and its provisions examined.
The issue has also drawn comments from opposition leaders. RJD leader Bhai Virendra has publicly urged the JD(U) to leave the NDA and join the Mahagathbandhan.
Given the current political climate, the gathering of JD(U) MLAs and MLCs in Patna has attracted political attention. However, Rajiv Ranjan Prasad has dismissed speculation that a major political decision is scheduled during the programme.
The party has maintained that the September 18 event is an orientation programme focused on legislative training and strengthening the role of its elected representatives.
Nitish Kumar inaugurated the programme, with discussions expected to centre on legislative procedures, public-interest issues and the effective functioning of JD(U) representatives in the House.
--IANS
ajk/skp