The stage is set for the much-awaited floor test in the Bihar Assembly on February 12, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will have to prove his majority following exiting the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ alliance and reuniting with BJP-led NDA.
According to a Hindustan Times report, ahead of the floor test, Congress shifted its MLAs to Hyderabad. RJD MLAs, on the other hand, have been camping at former deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav’s residence since Saturday night.
BJP also shifted its MLAs to Maha Bodhi resort in Bodh Gaya some days ago after Nitish Kumar met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The BJP, however, said the MLAs were sent to Bodh Gaya resort for training purposes and there was no fear of defection.
How Numbers Stack Up
- The are a total of 243 seats in the Bihar Assembly and the majority mark is 122.
- The BJP has 78 seats giving the NDA a comfortable majority of 128.
- CM Nitish Kumar’s party JD(U) has 45, Hindustani Awam Morcha, 4 and one independent MLA Sumit Singh.
- The opposition, on the other hand, has a total of 114 seats with RJD having the highest at 79.
- Congress has 19 seats, CPI(ML) 12, and 2 each with CPI(M) and CPI.
Five JD(U) MLAs kept off a ‘unity lunch’ event hosted by Bihar minister Shrawan Kumar on Saturday, ahead of Monday’s floor test. Following the meeting, JD(U) MLA Gopal Mandal assured the party was in touch with the MLAs who were not in attendance. 2-3 MLAs were not present today but they are in touch with us…Koi khela nahi hai…” Gopal Mandal said.
With inputs from News18
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