Patna: The political crisis in Bihar finally ended on Friday after the newly-formed Nitish Kumar-led alliance with BJP won the floor test with 131 votes. This was preceded by a dramatic and acrimonious debate during which Mr Kumar defended his decision to return to the NDA fold. “People (the opposition) should not teach me lessons in secularism. I cannot be with people who commit the sin of amassing property through corrupt means while hiding behind the shield of secularism,” Mr Kumar said in his speech.
Mr Kumar and the BJP needed just 122 votes in the 243-member Assembly to win the trust vote on Friday.
Four members of the House could not vote. With the effective strength of 239, Nitish Kumar needed only 120 votes to win the floor test. The RJD, which had earlier claimed it had the magic number to form the government got only 108 votes.
The RJD and Congress party created a ruckus and even blocked the entry gate of the state Assembly before the floor test.
“The grand secular alliance collapsed due to RJD’s false ego,” Mr Kumar said, adding, “I asked him (Tejaswi Yadav) to explain his position on the graft allegations against him, but he was not in a position to respond.”
He also said that it was after very long that Bihar and the Centre has the same government and that he would do anything for the development of the state.
In the rancourous debate that followed, Tejaswi accusing him of betrayal, said, “Aren’t you ashamed, voters gave a mandate to the grand secular alliance and not to the NDA.
It is a murder of democracy and people of the state will never forget the way you (Nitish Kumar) betrayed them. Tejashwi also accused him of using him as a mohra (pawn) to build his own image.
“The entire action (of seeking my resignation) was just an excuse so he could go with BJP.” The 131 votes in favour of Nitish Kumar included 70 from the JD(U), 53 from BJP, 2 MLAs each from RLSP and LJP, 1 from Jitan Ram Manjhi’s party HAM and 3 independents.
With Nitish Kumar returning to NDA and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi back as deputy Chief Minister, hopes are high in the state that the Centre would finally release the pending funds for Bihar, JD(U) leaders said after the trust vote.
