PATNA, Feb. 11 -- BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday said the 20-year NDA rule in Bihar under chief minister Nitish Kumar had made significant contributions to the state's development and helped improve its image across the country, calling it a matter of pride for every resident. Nabin, who visited the state Assembly after becoming the BJP national president in January this year, recalled that Bihar earlier suffered from a negative image, which had substantially improved after the NDA came to power. The BJP chief is currently on a visit to his home state. "I remember my student days, when I had not even dreamt of entering politics. I also recall the image crisis Bihar suffered from. I note with satisfaction that under the leadership of the chief minister, the image of the state has improved substantially and Bihar is now being treated with respect," he said. Chief minister Nitish Kumar, however, was not present in the House during the nearly 45 minutes that Nabin spent interacting with fellow MLAs. The 45-year-old BJP leader was given a rousing welcome on his arrival at the state Assembly, with senior BJP and NDA leaders greeting him at the main portico. Later, leaders from NDA constituents, including the Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party, Hindustan Awami Morcha (Secular) and the BJP, congratulated the sitting Bankipur MLA on his elevation to the party's top organisational post at a young age. Those who spoke on the occasion included minister and JD(U) MLA Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the two deputy chief ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, state BJP president Sanjay Saraogi, Raju Tiwari, Rashtriya Lok Morcha's Madhaw Anand and Hindustan Awami Morcha's Jyoti Devi. Speaker Prem Kumar, a veteran BJP leader, said it was a matter of pride that a young member of the House had risen to the top of national politics. In his address, Nabin recalled his entry into politics in 2006 following the death of his father, Navin Kishore Sinha. "When I began my political journey, I could not have imagined I would come this far. Full credit goes to my party and this House, which taught me how to conduct myself in public life," he said, also thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing faith in him. Incidentally, nearly half an hour before Nabin's arrival, opposition members staged a walkout, carrying placards to protest against the alleged rise in crimes against women in the state. Later in the day, Nabin monitored the progress of the Mandiri and Bakarganj Nala projects. Speaking to reporters in Patna, he said the schemes would be completed soon and would provide improved facilities to residents. He added that work on major drains was progressing rapidly....