The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies in Bihar have urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to review the State’s prohibition policy, in force since April 2016, and flagged financial losses to the State exchequer from trade in illicit liquor. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leaders, however, have said the policy was being reviewed from time to time, and has had a good impact on society.
Rashtriya Lok Morcha (RLM) leader and MLA from Madhubani Madhav Anand first raised the issue of a review in the State Assembly on Tuesday (February 17, 2026), drawing attention to “financial losses”.
In Bihar, liquor law is a tool to harass poor people, Dalits: Tejashwi Yadav
Led by former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, the RLM has four MLAs in the Bihar Assembly. Apart from Mr. Anand, Mr. Kushwaha’s wife, Snehlata, is the MLA from Sasaram; Rameshwar Mahto is the MLA from Bajpatti; and Alok Kumar Singh is the MLA from Dinara. Mr. Kushwaha’s son Deepak Prakash, who is neither an MLA nor MLC, is the Bihar Panchayati Raj Minister.
On Wednesday (February 18, 2026), Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) leader and Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Jitan Ram Manjhi, also an NDA ally, raised the same issue while speaking to media persons in Gaya.
