Ahead of trust vote, Bihar politics abuzz with rumours of cross-voting, shaky allegiances

Ahead of the newly formed NDA government’s floor test political parties in Bihar were busy trying to stay on top of the game with closed-door meetings for their MLAs and measures to keep their flock together

Ahead of the newly formed NDA government’s floor test on February 12, political parties in Bihar were busy trying to stay on top of the game with closed-door meetings for their MLAs and measures to keep their flock together. Adding to the suspense, rumour mills in the State were abuzz with news of legislators not showing up at meetings, contacting leaders of rival parties or turning off their mobile offices.

Reports suggested that some Janata Dal (United) legislators were conspicuously absent for the meeting at the residence of senior party leader and Cabinet Minister Shrawan Kumar. Some BJP members allegedly had not yet reached Bodh Gaya, where the party had sequestered its MLAs ahead of the trust vote for a “training” exercise. An MLA of a Left party (an ally of the RJD-led grand alliance) was said to have met with Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi.

The RJD had offered Mr. Manjhi, the rumour mills had it, a Rajya Sabha seat, a Lok Sabha seat and two Cabinet berths. Recently, he had demanded two berths in the newly formed NDA Cabinet.

The former Chief Minister, known as a mercurial leader, was apparently keeping his options open. He had disclosed on Friday that an Opposition party had offered him the post of Chief Minister but did not reveal which party did so. However, in a post on X, he claimed that the HAM(S) would always “stay with Modi ji”.

Santhosh Kumar Suman, Mr. Manjhi’s son and a Minister in the new government, also reaffirmed the party’s faith in the BJP. The party ahs four MLAs in the State Assembly.

While the Congress sent 16 of its 19 MLAs to Hyderabad (expected to return to Patna on February 11-12), the BJP sent all its 78 legislators for “training” to Bodh Gaya. The saffron party reportedly made the decision after Mr. Nitish Kumar’s meeting with the top leadership in Delhi. However, rumours surfaced again on Sunday that the Chief Minister feared there would be some cross-voting by a few of his party MLAs who have reportedly gone “incommunicado since last week”.

Significantly, Mr. Nitish Kumar, even after 14 days of swearing in under the new alliance, did not expand his Cabinet in view of the upcoming trust vote.