Patna, In a surprising turn of events, the equation in the Bihar legislative assembly has undergone a mathematical change just before the majority test for the Nitish Kumar-led government. Two legislators from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Chetan Anand and Neelam Devi, have extended their support to the Nitish government. This development sheds light on the confidence of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar before the crucial majority test.
Arriving at the legislative assembly for the majority test on Monday at around 10:20 AM, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar sported a light smile as he greeted journalists at the gate, waving his hand twice. During this, government ministers and legislators of the Janata Dal United (JDU) were seen displaying victory signs. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha also arrived with their party legislators, marching towards the legislative assembly
It is worth noting that the Bihar legislative assembly comprises a total of 243 members. Among them, Lalu Yadav’s party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), holds the highest number of 79 legislators. The Indian National Congress has 19, and Left parties account for 16 members. In total, the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) commands 114 legislators. On the other side, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has 78 legislators from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 45 from the JDU, and four from the Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular. Additionally, there is support from one independent legislator, bringing the total to 128. The magic number for a majority in Bihar is 122.
This development is crucial as it not only tilts the scales in favor of the Nitish Kumar government but also reveals the confidence of the Chief Minister in the face of the upcoming majority test. However, any change in support from JDU legislators or from the opposition, including the RJD or independents, could potentially create a new political challenge in Bihar.
