The history of defection was repeated in Bihar to-day [June 19] when the 115-day old Congress-led coalition Government headed by Mr. Harihar Singh was defeated in the Bihar Assembly by the combined Opposition in a dramatic trial of strength on a budget demand for Animal Husbandry. Just before the showdown all the six members of the Soshit Dal, a constituent of the coalition, including Mr. Jagdeo Prasad, Minister for River Valley Projects and Mr. Mahavir Prasad, Minister of State, defected to the Opposition. The 69-year-old Chief Minister, Mr. Harihar Singh, later submitted the resignation of his Government to the Governor, Mr. Nityananda Kanungo. The Governor is understood to have accepted Mr. Harihar Singh’s resignation but asked him to continue till alternative arrangements were made.
