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Nitish wins trust vote

131 MLAs support motion, 108 from Oppn oppose it
Last Updated 28 July 2017, 19:40 IST

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday won the trust vote with 131 MLAs supporting the confidence motion while 108 legislators from the RJD-led Opposition voting against it.

With the BJP-led NDA, having 58 MLAs in its kitty, it was a smooth sail for Nitish whose JD (U)’s strength in the Assembly is 71, including the Speaker.

Two members of the RJD-led Opposition could not vote. While Sudarshan of Congress was disallowed due to late arrival, RJD MLA Raj Ballabh Yadav could not participate in the proceedings due to his incarceration.

Interestingly, Chief Minister Nitish and his deputy Sushil Modi could not participate in the voting process, since both of them are members of the Legislative Council.

The trust vote was necessitated after Nitish resigned as Chief Minister on Thursday, only to form another Government with the help of NDA, barely hours after quitting as leader of the Grand Alliance.

Charging Nitish with showing utter disregard to the mandate he got in 2015, Tejashwi said, “If you wanted to join hands with BJP, why did you seek votes two years back lambasting Narendra Modi? You have deceived all of us as well as the Bihar electorate. As part of Champaran Satyagrah centenary celebrations, you took out padyatra with ‘Hey Ram’ supporters, and within months joined the flock of those who chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’. If you have the guts, go to the people’s court. You will get a befitting reply,” said Tejashwi, in his new role as Leader of the Opposition, while participating in the debate.

The House proceedings were, however, not telecast apprehending trouble in the Assembly.

Nitish retorted Tejashwi and said no body needs to lecture him about secularism. “In the name of upholding secularism, I cannot allow someone to indulge in loot and rampant corruption,” replied Nitish without taking anyone’s name. “Whatever step I have taken is in the best interest of Bihar which needs fast development to catch up with other developed States,” the CM added.

Later after winning the trust vote, Sushil Modi said, “There was an unnatural alliance earlier, which has now died a natural death.”

The RJD, meanwhile, has moved Patna High Court to protest Governor’s decision to invite Nitish to form the Government despite the RJD being the single largest party. “The HC will hear the PIL on Monday,” said RJD legislator Bhai Birendra.

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(Published 28 July 2017, 08:18 IST)

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