A day before the crucial trust vote, Bihar Speaker recognised the Janata Dal (United) of Nitish Kumar as the principal Opposition party replacing the BJP. The BJP cried foul but failed to get immediate relief from the court.
A JD(U) MLA did a sting operation on an RJD MP alleging allurement while embattled Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi gave a clarion call to Mahadalits to remain united for their development and the BJP issued a whip to party MLAs to vote for the Manjhi government during Friday’s trust vote.
The day began with Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhury recognising the Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal(United) as the main Opposition party while notifying party leader Vijay Chaudhury as Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly replacing BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav.
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The BJP opposed the move in the Patna High Court from where it did not get immediate relief on Thursday.
BJP protests outside Speaker's Office
The BJP protested outside the Speaker’s office charging him with acting on behalf of the JD(U) and Mr. Nitish Kumar. “It’s an unconstitutional act by the Speaker. It’s a murder of democracy,” charged Mr. Nand Kishore Yadav.
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The Speaker said the Assembly secretariat had to act according to the numerical strength of the parties.
Hearing a petition by the BJP, the Patna High Court refused to grant any immediate relief. Earlier, the court dismissed a petition filed by Independent MLA Vinay Bihari questioning the integrity of the Speaker during the trust vote.
The Manjhi group received yet another jolt when a Division Bench of the High Court stayed the Single Bench order revoking termination of the membership of four MLAs. This means Gyanendra Singh Gyanu, Rahul Sharma, Ravindra Rai and Neeraj Kumar Babloo would not be able to cast their vote during trust vote. The Speaker had terminated the membership of these four rebel JD(U) MLAs.
Meanwhile, releasing an audio clip, a JD(U) MLA from Sheohar, Mohd. Sarfuddin, claimed that RJD MP from Madhepura Pappu Yadav offered him money and a ministerial post in lieu of voting for the Manjhi government during trust vote.
But Mr. Pappu Yadav rebutted the charge. “I am ready for any probe to prove the charge made by the MLA whom I even do not know,” said Mr. Pappu Yadav.
In another development, Mr. Manjhi addressed a “Dalit Chetna Rally” in Patna and appealed to the community to remain united for their development. At the end of the day, Mr. Manjhi got a much-needed relief when the State BJP issued a whip to party MLAs to vote for him.