The Mahagathbandhan alliance comprises RJD, Congress, and Left allies, which sum up to 114 MLAs. Besides, there is one member of Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM, who has not revealed his inclination yet.
As it stands, Bihar Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari belongs to the JD(U) while Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary belongs to the RJD, which lost power as a result of Nitish Kumar's latest flip-over to the BJP-led NDA. A no-confidence motion against the Speaker will be taken up today at the assembly.
Congress MLAs were stationed in Telangana's capital Hyderabad for a week amid fears of poaching, and returned to Patna on Sunday. The party has as many as 19 MLAs, all of whom later reached Tejashwi Yadav's residence at 5, Deshratna Marg, the bungalow alloted to the RJD leader when he was the Bihar Deputy Chief Minister.
There was a sudden scare for the Nitish Kumar-led NDA alliance that developed overnight as eight MLAs - five JD(U) and three BJP - went missing. However, all five JD(U) legislators have now returned to their camp, India Today has learnt from sources. Meanwhile, two BJP legislators Bhagirithi Devi and Rashmi Verma have returned, while one - BJP MLA Mishri Lal Yadav - remains incommunicado.
It is believed Chetan Anand's younger brother lodged the complaint with Patna Police. Notably, Chetan Anand is the son of former MP and gangster-politician Anand Mohan. Later, the RJD responded to the incident on X and alleged that Nitish Kumar sent police to Tejashwi Yadav's residence, fearing defeat in the trust vote.
Patna Police briefly visited Tejashwi Yadav's residence late on Sunday night, following a complaint regarding RJD MLA Chetan Anand claiming to have been kidnapped and put under house arrest at the former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister's house. However, after the police arrived, Chetan Anand told them he had gone there on his own will and later left Tejashwi Yadav's residence. India Today has now learnt that Chetan Anand is likely to abstain from voting in the floor test today.
Several videos have emerged wherein Mahagathbandhan members were seen having a bonfire and enjoying music, and even playing cricket during their 'stay over' at Tejashwi Yadav's residence.
RJD MLAs, along with their Left allies have been camping at former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav's residence since Saturday night. The Mahagathbandhan members are expected to reach the state assembly today together in a show of solidarity.
The NDA alliance in Bihar began their preparation on Saturday (February 10) with lunch at Minister Shrawan Kumar's residence wherein many legislators were missing. BJP MLAs, who were in Bodh Gaya to attend a two-day workshop, were brought back to Patna on Sunday, with news agency PTI reporting that a couple of MLAs had skipped the same.
The JD(U) has 45 MLAs, excluding Nitish Kumar who is a member of the legislative council. The BJP, ally of the JD(U) in the NDA has 78 MLAs. Besides, the NDA alliance has four Hindustani Awam Morcha MLAs by ex-Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. Additionally, there is Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh, who is also a minister and had turned up at the JD(U) legislative party meeting ahead of the floor test.
Ahead of the floor test, an important meeting was called on Sunday at the house of JD(U) leader and Bihar Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary. At the meeting, JD(U) chief and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he is confident of winning the trust vote. He also advised all his party MLAs to be present in the House during the floor test and keep from indulging in any incidents that could disrupt the proceedings in the assembly.
The NDA alliance, having a strength of 128 in the 243-member assembly, is expected to have a smooth sail in the crucial floor test.
Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (United) and the BJP alliance in Bihar will face a trust vote in the state assembly today. The combination requires a majority of 122 to emerge as winners in the state assembly, and according to sources, Nitish Kumar has the support of 127 MLAs.
#WATCH | Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar addresses the State Assembly
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024
Floor Test of CM Nitish Kumar's government to prove their majority will be held today. pic.twitter.com/uE1jWBIdmr
Here’s what Congress MLA Siddharth Saurav said ahead of floor test in Bihar Assembly today.
Here’s what Congress MLA Santosh Mishra said ahead of the Bihar Assembly’s floor test today.
“Everything is fine. No party is more intact than Congress. The problem is in their (in JD(U)) camp,” he said.
RJD’s Chetan Anand and Neelam Devi are present in Vidhan Parishad. They are likely to vote in favour of NDA, said sources.
Ahead of the floor test in Bihar Assembly on Monday, the Janata Dal(U) alleged that the opposition had tried to “buy” its legislators, but failed. Jha said this as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with his other MLAs reached the Assembly for the floor test.
As the ruling and the Opposition camps in Bihar counted anxious minutes and watched over their flock ahead of the all-important floor test in the Assembly on Monday, expelled BSP leader and Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali on Sunday claimed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may switch sides again if it was politically convenient.
Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal United (JDU) exuded confidence that the party’s president will win the trust vote during the crucial floor test scheduled on Monday, two weeks after he ditched its alliance with the RJD and formed a government with the BJP.
RJD workers protest against the Bihar government in Patna. The protestors were later detained by Police.
#WATCH | RJD workers protest against the Bihar government in Patna. The protestors were later detained by Police.
— ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2024
Floor Test of CM Nitish Kumar's government to prove their majority will be held today. pic.twitter.com/pkl3CJ0ARV
Here’s what Union Minister Giriraj Singh said when asked about floor test in Bihar Assembly.
Here’s what BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said when asked about floor test in Bihar Assembly.
Here’s what BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav said when asked about floor test in Bihar Assembly.
Bihar Floor Test LIVE Patna: Motion to remove the Bihar Assembly Speaker and RJD leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary moved in the State Assembly. The motion has been passed and the Speaker has been removed.
RJD MLAs Chetan Anand, Neelam Devi and Prahlad Yadav sit on the government side in the Bihar Assembly in Patna.
Patna: Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, “MLAs should sit on their respective seats till the end of voting, otherwise voting will be considered invalid.”
Discussion on the motion to remove the Bihar Assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary is currently underway in the State Assembly.
On three RJD MLAs sitting with NDA legislators, Dr Satyendra Yadav of CPI(M), said, “BJP has brought our MLAs to their side. They have used money to murder the democracy.”
No-confidence motion against Bihar Assembly Speaker and RJD leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary passed in the State Assembly. 125 members voted in favour of the resolution; 112 against.
Bihar Floor Test: Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, “I stand against this new government. I want to thank CM Nitish Kumar for creating history by taking oath 9 times…”
Bihar Floor Test: Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, “We will always respect CM Nitish Kumar…When you came out of Raj Bhavan after resigning, you (Nitish Kumar) said ‘Mann nhi lag raha tha, hum log nachne gaane ke liye thode hai…we were there to support you…”
Bihar Floor Test: Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, “…We think of you (CM Nitish Kumar) as a member of our family. We are from the Samajwadi family…Jo aap jhanda le kar ke chale the ki Modi ko desh mein rokne hain, ab aapka Bhateeja jhanda utha kar ke Modi ko Bihar mein rokne ka kaam karega.”
Bihar Floor Test: Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, “I am happy that Karpoori Thakur got (Bharat Ratna)…They (BJP) have made Bharat Ratna a deal. Deal with us and we will give you Bharat Ratna…”
Bihar Floor Test: Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav says, “I feel bad for JDU MLAs because they will have to go among the public and answer. If someone asks you why Nitish Kumar took oath 3 times, what will you say? Earlier you used to criticise them (BJP) and now you are praising them, what will you say? We (RJD) will say that we have given jobs.”
The Opposition has demanded voting on the issue of removing the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker accepted, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
Bihar floor test: “As per the latest information, the NDA has cleared the floor test (in Bihar Assembly). I want to congratulate them. The Congress created an atmosphere of fear by sending its MLAs to Hyderabad. Similarly, the RJD made its MLAs prisoners. I am glad that we have achieved the majority,” says JD(U) leader KC Tyagi.
“…We have resolved to make Bihar free of crime and corruption…, says Vijay Sinha, Deputy CM and BJP leader.
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday said he always considered Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to be a father figure, and wondered what forced him to ditch the Mahagathbandhan’ and return to the BJP-led NDA. Taking part in the debate on the confidence motion moved by the Kumar-led NDA government in the assembly, Yadav also taunted his ex-boss for having been sworn in “for a record ninth time, and also for the third time within a five-year term, something which has no precedent”.
Bihar floor test | Congress MLA Dr. Shakeel Ahmad Khan says, “…Despite winning, their (BJP-JDU) heads are hanging in shame, they have no answer to any questions…When politics is done with deceit and deception and without ideology, then this happens…”
As voting begins, Nitish Kumar wins trust vote with the support of 129 MLAs.
After Nitish Kumar’s victory, the opposition RJD walked out of the assembly.
“Since 2005, when I got into power, there has been significant development in Bihar. Before that, his (Tejashwi Yadav’s) father and mother got the opportunity to serve Bihar for 15 years. What did they do? There used to be many conflicts between Hindus and Muslims. But when I came to power, these conflicts stopped,” said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in the Bihar Assembly earlier today.
After Nitish Kumar-led NDA govt won trust vote in Bihar assembly, state Congress MLA Shakeel Ahmed Khan said, “Congress always stands firmly on the ideological platform with its moral strength. Our unity is firm, and we will continue to stay intact.”
RJD leader Ramanuj Prasad reacted to Nitish Kumar’s allegation of corruption by RJD leaders.
“Since 2005, when I got into power, there has been significant development in Bihar. Before that, his (Tejashwi Yadav’s) father and mother got the opportunity to serve Bihar for 15 years. What did they do? There used to be many conflicts between Hindus and Muslims. But when I came to power, these conflicts stopped,” said Bihar CM Nitish Kumar in the Bihar Assembly earlier today.
RJD leader Ramanuj Prasad reacted to Nitish Kumar’s allegation of corruption by RJD leaders.
“If there’s any politician without any principles, that is Nitish Kumar. He is Chief Minister from last 18 years, all his dark deeds will come forth,” he said.
