Bihar Floor Test: Today’s trust vote in the state assembly will determine the fate of the BJP coalition in Bihar and the Janata Dal (United), led by Nitish Kumar. In the state assembly, a combination needs the support of 122 MLAs to win, and 127 MLAs have reportedly endorsed Nitish Kumar. With 128 members in the 243-member house, the NDA coalition is predicted to breeze through the important floor test.
Pre-Floor Test Strategizing
An significant meeting was called on Sunday at the home of JD(U) leader and Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, in advance of the floor test. Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar and leader of the JD(U), expressed his confidence in winning the trust vote during the meeting. Additionally, he counselled every member of his party’s legislature to attend the floor test in the House and refrain from engaging in any behaviour that would disturb the assembly’s business.
JD(U)’s Legislative Strength
With the exception of Nitish Kumar, a member of the legislative council, the JD(U) has 45 MLAs. With 78 MLAs, the BJP is the JD(U)’s ally in the NDA. In addition, former Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha has four MLAs in the NDA alliance. Sumit Kumar Singh, an Independent MLA and minister, was also present in the JD(U) parliamentary party meeting before to the floor test.
Explanation and Assurance
A few JD(U) MLAs did not show up for the meeting held at Vijay Kumar Chaudhary’s home on Sunday. The Bihar Minister emphasised that they would be present in the assembly for today’s trust vote, but stated that their absence was caused by “unavoidable circumstances” about which they had provided “prior information”.
On Saturday, February 10, the NDA coalition in Bihar kicked off their preparations with lunch at Minister Shrawan Kumar’s house, where a number of lawmakers were absent. Sunday saw the return of BJP MLAs who had travelled to Bodh Gaya for a two-day training. According to news agency PTI, several MLAs had not attended.
Mahagathbandhan’s Unity Symbol
Since Saturday night, RJD MLAs and Leftist supporters have set up camp at the home of former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav. In a gesture of unity, the Mahagathbandhan members are anticipated to arrive in the state legislature together today.
Videos of Mahagathbandhan members enjoying music, a bonfire, and even a game of cricket during their “stay over” at Tejashwi Yadav’s house have surfaced. After receiving a report about RJD MLA Chetan Anand, who claimed to have been abducted and placed under house arrest at the home of the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Patna Police made a quick visit to Tejashwi Yadav’s residence late on Sunday night.
Chetan Anand told the police, however, that he had gone there of his own free will and has since left Tejashwi Yadav’s house. As of right now, India Today has learned that Chetan Anand is probably going to skip today’s floor test.
Patna Police Report Filed by Chetan Anand’s Younger Brother
It is believed that the Patna Police report was filed by Chetan Anand’s younger brother. Notably, Anand Mohan, a gangster-politician and former MP, is the father of Chetan Anand. Subsequently, the RJD responded to the incident on X and claimed that, in an attempt to prevent Tejashwi Yadav from losing the trust vote, Nitish Kumar had deployed police to his home.
NDA Coalition Stunned by Vanishing MLAs
An unexpected fear for the Nitish Kumar-led NDA coalition emerged over night when eight MLAs vanished, three of whom were BJP and five of whom were JD(U). However, sources have told India Today that all five of the JD(U) lawmakers have since returned to their camp. Two BJP lawmakers, Bhagirithi Devi and Rashmi Verma, have returned to their posts, while one, MLA Mishri Lal Yadav, is still not allowed to speak.
Amidst concerns of poaching, Congress MLAs were stationed in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, for a week before returning to Patna on Sunday. Up to 19 MLAs from the party have now visited Tejashwi Yadav’s home at 5 Deshratna Marg, the bungalow that was given to the RJD leader during his tenure as the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister.
Speaker’s Political Affiliation
Currently, Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary is a member of the RJD, which lost influence after Nitish Kumar switched to the BJP-led NDA. Bihar Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari is a member of the JD(U). There will be a motion for no confidence in the Speaker today in the assembly.
RJD, Congress, and Left allies make form the Mahagathbandhan alliance, which has 114 MLAs in total. Additionally, one member of Asaduddin Owaisi, the MP for Hyderabad,’s AIMIM has not yet disclosed his preference.
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