Nitish Kumar's three pronged strategy to counter Jitan Ram Manjhi-BJP axis

NEW DELHI: Ahead of Friday's trial of strength in the Bihar assembly, the JD(U)-RJD-Congress combine has firmed up a three-pronged strategy to counter the Jitan Ram Manjhi-BJP axis on the floor of the House. Their strategy, based on the calculation that there will be no fresh desertion of MLAs from their ranks, includes a plot to foil the Manjhi-BJP bid to immobilise Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary, who has refused to join the Manjhi side, before the trial of strength.

The combine is holding out the threat to paralyse the budget session of Parliament if the Centre and BJP leadership imposes President's rule in Bihar to block the return of Nitish Kumar as chief minister. "If PM and BJP chief, even after the lesson of Delhi polls, try to bulldoze the people's mandate in Bihar, they will face the consequences not only in Bihar but also in Parliament. It is up to them whether to precipitate a political crisis at national level or avert it by abandoning the Manjhi misadventure mid-way," a senior leader of the combine told ET. Given Speaker's strategic role in this stand-off, a pro-Manjhi MLA has given a notice for removal of the Speaker, something that the Nitish camp sees as a ploy for manipulating House proceedings. Such a notice takes precedence over any other business in the House, including a trust vote. It is the Deputy Speaker (in this case a BJP MLA) who presides when the motion is debated.

However, the rules also require such a motion to be given at least 14 days' in advance. "As per the rules, a minimum of 14-days' notice is required for tabling a motion against the Speaker. In this case, a notice given only late last week by a lone MLA makes it fit case for outright rejection," said a source privy to the strategy of the Nitish camp.

The combine also apprehends the possibility of BJP MLAs creating a ruckus in the House to prevent voting.

"BJP itself has recently set a precedence by letting Maharashtra Speaker declare the Devendra Fadnavis government had won trust vote through voice vote amid din and walk-out by some parties.

So, how can BJP oppose a similar voice vote deciding the fate of Manjhi," asked a leader of the combine. By approaching the Speaker to reallot Opposition space for JD(U), the combine is also testing whether BJP wants to actually share the treasury benches with Manjhi or leave him stranded mid-battle.