<p>The newly-formed 'Mahagathbandhan' government in Bihar on Wednesday comfortably won the motion of confidence amid a walkout staged by MLAs of the BJP -- which has been stripped of power as a result of the recent political upheaval in the state.</p>.<p>Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari ordered a headcount upon a request by Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the parliamentary affairs minister, who said that though a voice vote had clearly showed support of the majority, the count would “leave no room for any confusion”.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read |<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/land-for-job-scam-cbi-raids-25-places-rjd-leaders-among-those-searched-1138759.html" target="_blank"> Land-for-job scam: CBI raids 25 places, RJD leaders among those searched</a></strong></p>.<p>Altogether 160 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion while no vote was cast against the same.</p>.<p>The lone MLA of AIMIM, Akhtarul Iman, whose party is not a part of the ruling alliance, also took part in the exercise and supported the confidence motion.</p>.<p>Some of the BJP MLAs, who had staged a walkout while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was delivering his speech, stormed the House demanding that the deputy speaker not waste time on a redundant headcount but take up businesses scheduled for the day and announced boycott of the proceedings.</p>.<p>Proceedings were, subsequently, adjourned till Friday by the deputy speaker who also informed the House that on Thursday nomination papers will be filed for election of a new speaker, the post having fallen vacant upon resignation of BJP’s Vijay Kumar Sinha.</p>.<p>In his speech that lasted for about half an hour, Nitish Kumar made indirect references to rebellion by LJP’s Chirag Paswan, allegedly at BJP’s behest, and attempts to cause a split in JD(U) through his former protege RCP Singh.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/tejashwi-yadav-fumes-at-bjp-over-cbi-raids-calls-the-ed-cbi-it-the-three-jamaai-1138901.html" target="_blank">Tejashwi Yadav fumes at BJP over CBI raids; calls the ED, CBI, IT the three 'jamaai'</a></strong></p>.<p>Kumar asserted that he had "no personal ambitions", rejecting the BJP’s charge that his latest volte face was aimed at becoming the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition camp.</p>.<p>He, nonetheless, spoke of his interactions with leaders from across the country whom he has urged to stay united for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.</p>.<p>The JD(U) leader also recounted his old association with the BJP and underscored the contrast between the current dispensation and the era of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.</p>.<p>Without mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi by name, he said “the current dispensation does little except publicity ('prachar prasar')".</p>.<p>As BJP MLAs protested, he added, “Speak against me. May be this will earn you some rewards from your political bosses." </p>
<p>The newly-formed 'Mahagathbandhan' government in Bihar on Wednesday comfortably won the motion of confidence amid a walkout staged by MLAs of the BJP -- which has been stripped of power as a result of the recent political upheaval in the state.</p>.<p>Deputy Speaker Maheshwar Hazari ordered a headcount upon a request by Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, the parliamentary affairs minister, who said that though a voice vote had clearly showed support of the majority, the count would “leave no room for any confusion”.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read |<a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/land-for-job-scam-cbi-raids-25-places-rjd-leaders-among-those-searched-1138759.html" target="_blank"> Land-for-job scam: CBI raids 25 places, RJD leaders among those searched</a></strong></p>.<p>Altogether 160 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion while no vote was cast against the same.</p>.<p>The lone MLA of AIMIM, Akhtarul Iman, whose party is not a part of the ruling alliance, also took part in the exercise and supported the confidence motion.</p>.<p>Some of the BJP MLAs, who had staged a walkout while Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was delivering his speech, stormed the House demanding that the deputy speaker not waste time on a redundant headcount but take up businesses scheduled for the day and announced boycott of the proceedings.</p>.<p>Proceedings were, subsequently, adjourned till Friday by the deputy speaker who also informed the House that on Thursday nomination papers will be filed for election of a new speaker, the post having fallen vacant upon resignation of BJP’s Vijay Kumar Sinha.</p>.<p>In his speech that lasted for about half an hour, Nitish Kumar made indirect references to rebellion by LJP’s Chirag Paswan, allegedly at BJP’s behest, and attempts to cause a split in JD(U) through his former protege RCP Singh.</p>.<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/national-politics/tejashwi-yadav-fumes-at-bjp-over-cbi-raids-calls-the-ed-cbi-it-the-three-jamaai-1138901.html" target="_blank">Tejashwi Yadav fumes at BJP over CBI raids; calls the ED, CBI, IT the three 'jamaai'</a></strong></p>.<p>Kumar asserted that he had "no personal ambitions", rejecting the BJP’s charge that his latest volte face was aimed at becoming the prime ministerial candidate of the opposition camp.</p>.<p>He, nonetheless, spoke of his interactions with leaders from across the country whom he has urged to stay united for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.</p>.<p>The JD(U) leader also recounted his old association with the BJP and underscored the contrast between the current dispensation and the era of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.</p>.<p>Without mentioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi by name, he said “the current dispensation does little except publicity ('prachar prasar')".</p>.<p>As BJP MLAs protested, he added, “Speak against me. May be this will earn you some rewards from your political bosses." </p>