Patna: Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday tabled a motion of confidence in the legislative assembly, setting the stage for a crucial floor test to prove the majority of the newly formed government.
The special session, convened for the purpose, saw the speaker Prem Kumar allocate 90 minutes for leaders across parties to participate in the debate before voting.
Heated Exchanges In The House
Leader of the opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav opened the discussion, launching a sharp attack on the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and questioning the circumstances under which the leadership change took place.
His remarks led to heated exchanges in the assembly, reflecting the charged political atmosphere surrounding the confidence motion.
Numbers Favour NDA
In the 243-member house, one seat remains vacant, bringing the effective strength to 242. The NDA is expected to comfortably secure a majority with 202 MLAs, including members from the BJP, JD(U), LJP (Ram Vilas), Hindustani Awam Morcha and Rashtriya Lok Morcha.
The opposition Mahagathbandhan has 35 MLAs, comprising the RJD, Congress, Left parties and an independent member.
Opposition Targets Leadership Shift
During his address, Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the BJP had sidelined former chief minister Nitish Kumar, saying the party had “finished” his leadership.
He also criticised the frequency of government changes in the state, claiming Bihar had seen multiple administrations in the past five years, which he described as a sign of political instability.
Yadav further accused the ruling alliance of replacing an “elected” chief minister with a “selected” one, referring to Choudhary’s appointment.
Government To Prove Majority
Choudhary, who recently took oath along with deputy chief ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, is required to demonstrate his government’s majority on the floor of the house.
The voting is expected to take place after the completion of the debate, with the NDA widely seen as holding a comfortable numerical advantage.
