"Good governance" possible with people's cooperation : Nitish

Patna, Apr 2 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today called for people's coperation to ensure good governance in the state.

After declaring the unanimous election of Mr Rajeev Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh to the post of JD(U) state president during the meeting of state executive here, Mr Kumar said he had promised good governance during his campaign for the Assembly elections in Bihar and it was only possible with the active cooperation from the people.

He exhorted the party workers to propagate the achievements of the government to the masses. '' Workers should also inform me if there is any discontentment among the people regarding the functioning of the state government so that necessary changes could be made, '' he said.

Mr Kumar said Bihar was the first state where Employment Guarantee Scheme had been implemented in all districts. The Central government-sponsored employment scheme had been implemented in 23 districts, while 15 other districts had been covered by the resources of the state government.

He described the provision made by the state government for fifty per cent participation of women in Panchayati Raj and local bodies posts as historic. He said extremely backward caste had also been given proper representation in the new provision for the Panchayati Raj and local bodies.

Earlier during the meeting, senior JD(U) leader and Bihar Revenue and Land Reforms Minister Ram Nath Thakur proposed the Chief Minister be authorised to choose state JD(U) president and Principal General secretary and it was supported by the state executive.

Later during his speech at the meeting, Mr Kumar annouced the name of Mr Rajeev Ranjan Singh for the state president and Mr Upendra Prasad Kushwaha as the principal general secretary of the state JD(U). All the executive members and workers of the party unanimously supported the proposal of Mr Kumar, who formally declared them elected to their respective posts.

Mr Rajeev Ranjan Singh and Mr Upendra Prasad Kushwaha were currently holding the posts of state president and principal general secretary respectively of the party.

UNI XC RS SJC VD PC1904