Overview
- Visiting for the inaugural Nalanda Literary Festival, Shashi Tharoor said Bihar’s roads, electricity and water services had visibly improved and that people were out late at night.
- He declined to endorse any leader, saying he was genuinely happy to see progress and that credit belonged to the people of Bihar and their elected representatives.
- BJP MLA Ram Kadam welcomed the assessment as reflecting a broader national sentiment, while JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar pointed to visible changes and international students at Nalanda University.
- Congress MP Imran Masood criticized Tharoor for praising a government that includes the BJP, calling him directionally confused, and the Congress issued no formal response.
- Tharoor’s appraisal follows a record of independent commentary, including past appreciation of select initiatives and earlier criticism of Nitish Kumar over a hijab-related incident.