Ahead of floor test in Bihar tomorrow, all eyes on former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi

financialexpress.com:

The trust vote of the new Bihar government is all set to take place tomorrow. After coming out from the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government, Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar yet again formed the government, along with the BJP and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) (HAM)(S).

He was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the state for the ninth time on January 28. Along with him, two BJP leaders – Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha – took oath as the deputy Chief Ministers.

Currently, JD-U has 45 MLAs, BJP 78, RJD 79, HAM-S 4, Congress 19, CPI(ML)(L) 12, CPI (M) and CPI two, AIMIM and Independent one seat each in the 243-member Bihar Assembly. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 128 seats, of which the BJP has 78 seats, the JD(U) 45 and the HAM(S) four. The remaining lone seat is held by an Independent MLA. The Opposition holds 114 seats. The magic figure is 122.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Haribhushan Thakur on Sunday expressed confidence that they will win the floor test, and said that the new government willl complete the full term.

On being asked about Jitan Ram Manjhi’s statement that all his four MLAs will vote NDA. Thakur expressed confidence, stating, “Jitan Ram Manjhi is with us, and those who play games will see consequences in their own homes. Just wait until tomorrow.”

On Saturday, former Bihar chief minister and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) founder, Jitan Ram Manjhi said that a whip has been issued by the party to its four MLAs instructing them to vote in favour of the NDA government in the trust vote.

“Everybody is intact in NDA…Today, everybody holds PM Modi’s leadership in high regard…All MLAs (BJP, JDU, HAM) will be present tomorrow,”  Manjhi told news agency ANI on Sunday.

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