Patna: With the impending floor test on February 12 looming over Bihar’s political landscape, parties are in a frenzy to secure the loyalty of their MLAs amidst fears of potential defections. Tensions escalated further when five MLAs were conspicuously absent from a banquet hosted by Minister Shravan Kumar for JDU MLAs on Saturday.
However, organizers of the event were informed that the absentees had prior commitments. It’s anticipated that they will be present at the legislature party meeting scheduled at Minister Vijay Chaudhary’s residence on Sunday.
Among the absent JDU MLAs were Dr. Sanjeev, Shalini Mishra, Sudarshan, Dilip Rai, and Bima Bharti. Dr. Sanjeev had communicated his absence to Shravan Kumar due to attending his sister-in-law’s wedding anniversary celebration in Goa. Similarly, Shalini Mishra had notified her unavailability for the banquet two days earlier, as she was engaged in business in Delhi. Sudarshan, the MLA from Barbigha, remained in his constituency without providing further details for his absence. Reasons for the absence of Dilip Rai and Bima Bharti were not disclosed by JDU leaders, who attributed the sudden organization of the banquet as the cause for some members’ inability to attend.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar briefly attended the JDU MLAs’ banquet before departing for another engagement, indicating his intention to share his perspective at the forthcoming legislative party meeting.
In preparation for the budget session, whip has been issued to JDU MLAs, with former ministers Bhoj Vijay Chaudhary and Shrawan Kumar urging full attendance in the House.
Commenting on the political landscape, JDU MLC Neeraj Kumar remarked on the alliances being forged and maneuvers observed by Congress MLAs, who are reportedly in Hyderabad and actively engaging with ‘temple-goers’.
