The Janata Dal United (JDU), led by Nitish Kumar, expressed certainty that their party president would secure victory in the crucial floor test scheduled for Monday. This vote follows Nitish Kumar’s oath-taking ceremony as Bihar’s chief minister for an unprecedented ninth time.
Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, the national secretary of JDU, asserted, “Under CM Nitish Kumar’s leadership, we will secure the majority, and the government will complete its term.”
Ahead of the trust vote, heavy security was deployed around the residence of Tejashwi Yadav, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) accused the police of attempting to enter Tejashwi’s residence to create disturbances.
The RJD vowed not to yield in what they termed an “ideological struggle.” Meanwhile, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain defended the police deployment, stating that they were merely fulfilling their duties.
The BJP dismissed claims of missing MLAs, asserting that all NDA members were present and accounted for. Nitish Kumar’s decision to form a new government with BJP support had prompted his resignation from the Mahagathbandhan, causing a significant political upheaval. Putting to rest frenzied speculations around his future and that of the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, Nitish resigned as chief minister on January 28, his second volte face in less than 18 months.
In the Bihar Assembly, the ruling NDA coalition, comprising JDU, BJP, and HAM-S, holds a majority with 128 MLAs against the Mahagathbandhan’s 115. The trust vote requires a minimum of 122 votes for victory.