Bihar Floor Test LIVE: 3 RJD MLAs sit on govt’s side in Assembly ahead of vote

‘Will Modiji take guarantee if he will switch again?’, asks Tejashwi Yadav’s as he attacks Nitish Kumar.

“We don’t know what were the circumstances but we know something would have happened. What is the reason that you are sometimes here, sometimes there?” Tejshwi Yadav says.

“We want to congratulate CM for taking an oath nine times in a row creating history, not just that, he has taken oaths thirce in single terms too,” RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav takes jibe at Nitish Kumar.

Opposition demands voting on the issue of removing the Speaker and Deputy Speaker accepts.

Former Bihar Deputy CM and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav speaks against RJD MLAs sitting on the government’s side. He said, “MLAs should sit on their respective seats till the end of voting, otherwise voting will be considered invalid.”

RJD’s Chetan Anand, son of Anand Mohan and Nilam Devi, wife of Don turned politician likely to vote in favour of NDA.

Chetan Anand, Neelam Devi and Prahlad Yadav sit on the government side in the state assembly.

Motion to remove Bihar Speaker Awadh Bihari Choudhary presented in the State Assembly

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad said sked about floor test in Bihar Assembly, “We will surely get the majority. The BJP-JD(U) government will continue to work for the people.”

BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav said, “We will surely win it.”

Union Minister Shandilya Giriraj Singh said, “Floor test happened on the same day when Nitish Kumar was sworn in (as Bihar CM). The BJP, Jitan Ram Manjhi’s Hindustani Awam Morcha and the JD(U) are… The floor test happened on the same day, this is only a formality.”

RJD Spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav said to ANI, “Two MLAs Chetan Anand & Neelam Devi have been made to sit on the side of JDU’s whip. They were given threats and whatnot…What kind of trading is this…”

Governor Rajendra Arlekar’s address to the Bihar assembly ends

Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar emphasized the paramount importance of upholding the rule of law in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

In his address to both Houses of the state legislature on the opening day of the budget session, Governor Arlekar highlighted the government’s commitment to law and order, citing increased police strength as a testament to this priority.

Despite disruptions from the opposition, the governor also outlined various welfare initiatives undertaken by the government.

Protests erupt as Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar addresses the Assembly

Bihar Governor Rajendra Arlekar addresses the State Assembly ahead of floor test, which is likely to test Nitish Kumar-led govt.

The BJP, now back in power in Bihar following a recent alliance with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, expressed assurance on Monday that the new government would smoothly pass the trust vote. State BJP president Samrat Choudhary, also designated as a deputy CM, arrived at the assembly ahead of the trust vote, signaling confidence with a victory sign. He was joined by party colleague Vijay Kumar Sinha, who also holds the position of deputy CM.

Bihar Assembly Speaker and RJD leader Awadh Bihari Choudhary at the State Assembly in Patna

JD(U) MLA and RJD’s Birendra Prasad begin assembly session with a verbal spat.

Bihar Congress CLP leader Dr Shakeel Ahmed Khan said ahead of floor test, “First they will have to remove the Speaker on the basis of majority and according to us, they do not have the majority…”

AIMIM MLA Akhtarul Iman speaking about the floor test said, “AIMIM’s stand is clear that we will vote against communal forces…”

Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav arrives at the state Assembly in Patna.

Former Bihar CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjh also reached Bihar Assembly.

Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha reach the State Assembly in Patna ahead of the floor test. Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said to reporters, “Khela ho gaya…”

Tejashwi Yadav, former Deputy CM of Bihar, departs from his residence en route to the Bihar Vidhan Sabha ahead of the floor test.

Bihar CM and JDU national president Nitish Kumar arrives at the Bihar Assembly in Patna

JDU leader Neeraj Kumar said, “Majority will be in favour of NDA. No-confidence motion will be brought against the Speaker and he will have to leave the chair and the Deputy Speaker will preside over it…”

“The (alliance) is intact and we will prove the majority in the House. Will those who were claiming of a ‘khela’ here would resign after the floor test?” JD(U) leader Neeraj Kumar says ahead of Bihar floor test.

Rajeev Mishra, SSP Patna said, “Security arrangements have been made in view of the assembly session today. Today is the first day of the session. Whatever happens inside the House, we have nothing to do with it…”

Bihar former CM Rabri Devi arrives at the residence of former Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav

Bihar Minister and JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said to ANI, “Today only two things will happen. The Speaker should step down on his own, otherwise, he will be removed and secondly, the government will win the majority test… All our MLAs are in touch with us.”

RJD MLA Bhai Virendra flashes a victory sign upon his arrival at the Bihar Assembly in Patna, preceding the floor test of the NDA administration under CM Nitish Kumar. “Mahagathbandhan is united…,” he said.

Security officials deployed at Bihar Vidhan Sabha, ahead of the floor test of the NDA government led by CM Nitish Kumar.

When ‘Palti Kumar’ is ruling who knows where he will take a turn. A floor test is important. In Jharkhand, the floor test was done on February 5 & in Bihar time was given till February 12. This is all a conspiracy: Jairam Ramesh, Congress

RJD leader Mrityunjay Tiwari says on Bihar floor test, “Satya pareshan ho sakta hai lekin parajit nahi…In a few hours, everything will be known…Democracy will triumph. All the MLAs have made a resolution to save Bihar & its future and for that, the current government needs to be removed from power…”

On Sunday, expelled BSP leader and Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali claimed that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar may switch sides again if it proves politically advantageous, as the ruling and Opposition camps in Bihar anxiously awaited the crucial floor test in the Assembly on Monday.

“The people of Bihar are embarrassed over the state of affairs. They are very saddened by the way Nitish Kumar made fun of them and their mandate. The pressure on his MLAs is clearly visible. It wouldn’t surprise me if Nitish Kumar makes another of his political switchovers in the foreseeable future and return to the Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance),” he told ANI.

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain says, “Under the leadership of Nitish Kumar, the JDU-NDA government will prove its majority on the floor. Our numbers are going to increase. Nothing will happen no matter what the opposition does…Jungle Raj will not return to Bihar…”

Earlier today, RJD supporters gathered outside the residence of party leader Tejashwi Yadav in Patna.

RJD’s Shakti Singh said, “Never in the history of democracy have authorities barged into MLA meetings.”

On the Floor test in Bihar, JD(U) national secretary Rajiv Ranjan Prasad says, “Under the leadership of CM Nitish Kumar, we will get the majority and the government will complete its tenure…”

Ahead of the pivotal floor test in Bihar’s legislative assembly on Monday, the JD(U) and BJP, the main constituents of the majority alliance, conducted crucial meetings with their MLAs on Sunday.

Both parties expressed confidence that the new alliance would successfully navigate the test. Despite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar addressing the JD(U) gathering, concerns arose as three legislators were absent. However, senior party figures assured that they were in contact with them and confirmed the presence of all their members.

Read Here.

All attention is focused on the Bihar floor test scheduled for Monday (February 12), where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar must demonstrate his majority following his departure from the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, an alliance comprising the RJD, Congress, and Left parties.

Prior to this critical test of numbers, the Congress safeguarded its MLAs in Hyderabad, while RJD MLAs have been stationed at the residence of former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav since Saturday night.

Meanwhile, the BJP relocated its MLAs to the Maha Bodhi resort in Bodh Gaya ahead of the floor test, following Nitish Kumar’s meeting with PM Modi in New Delhi.

The BJP clarified that the MLAs were sent to the Bodh Gaya resort for training purposes and there is no concern regarding opposition poaching.

Read Here.

A tight security perimeter encircled the home of Bihar Assembly’s Leader of Opposition, Tejashwi Yadav, in Patna, a day before the pivotal floor test for the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government.

As MLAs were relocated to safeguard locations within or outside the state in preparation for the crucial trust vote, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) claimed that police officers attempted to enter Tejashwi’s residence under various pretexts, potentially instigating untoward incidents against party MLAs.

RJD said in a post in X, “Nitish Kumar, fearing the government, has sent thousands of police and surrounded Tejashwi ji’s residence from all sides. They want to enter inside the residence on any pretext and do untoward incidents with the MLAs. The people of Bihar are watching the misdeeds of Nitish Kumar and the police.”

It added, “Remember, we are not among those who fear and bow down. This is a struggle of ideology and we will fight it and win because the justice-loving people of Bihar will oppose this police repression. Jai Bihar! Jai Hind.”

As the trust vote in Bihar loomed, causing tension and anticipation, the ruling Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) took precautionary measures by relocating its MLAs to a hotel near the legislature.

A video clip obtained by ANI showed the JD(U) MLAs en route to the Chanakya Hotel in Patna.

This move comes as JD(U) faces its first significant challenge on the Assembly floor since rejoining the BJP-led NDA alliance.