Nitish Kumar wins confidence vote in Bihar

PATNA: Backed by MLAs belonging to RJD, Congress, CPI and Independent, the Nitish Kumar government on Wednesday comfortably won the confidence vote in the Bihar assembly. BJP walked out before the vote. While a total of 140 members voted in favour of the confidence motion moved by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, there was no vote against it, Speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary announced in the Assembly.

The confidence vote was first approved by voice vote and then on insistence of the government, which had the backing of RJD, Congress, CPI and an Independent, division was taken up. Altogether 109 JD (U) MLAs except for Jitan Ram Manjhi, 24 of RJD, 5 of Congress, one of CPI and an Independent totalling 140 voted in favour of the government.

All rebel JD(U) MLAs except for Manjhi fell in line to avoid being disqualified by violating whip and voted for Nitish Kumar ministry. BJP, which has 87 members, walked out of the House beforehand and did not take part either in voice vote or division.

Bihar Assembly has an effective strength of 233 at present with 10 vacancies. Manjhi skipped the House after raising question how whip is applicable on an unattached member.

Soon after Governor KN Tripathi concluded his address to the joint sitting of the state legislature, Nitish Kumar moved to seek trust vote. He sailed through with 140 votes in his favour and zero against.