Reported by Manish Kumar, Edited by Shamik Ghosh | Updated: June 19, 2013 01:40 IST
Patna: Nitish
Kumar's Bihar government faces a trust vote in the state legislature
today. His party, the Janata Dal United or JD(U), has 118 legislators.
To win the vote, it needs 122 votes. Four of Bihar's six independent
legislators have reportedly committed their support to the JD(U).
The Congress too is likely to vote in favour of Mr Kumar's government, said sources in the party late on Tuesday night, adding, the support does not mean an alliance.
Senior Congress leaders have been making overtures to Mr Kumar; the trust vote will indicate if their intentions are honourable. On Monday, the Prime Minister praised him as "a secular leader."
The Congress too is likely to vote in favour of Mr Kumar's government, said sources in the party late on Tuesday night, adding, the support does not mean an alliance.
Senior Congress leaders have been making overtures to Mr Kumar; the trust vote will indicate if their intentions are honourable. On Monday, the Prime Minister praised him as "a secular leader."
When asked if a new alliance is in the making, the PM responded, "In
politics there are no permanent friends or enemies. We decide as the
situation evolves."
When announced that he was ending his alliance with the BJP, Mr Kumar had said, "We cannot compromise with our principles. Whatever the consequences are, we will deal with them."
He attributed his decision to the placing its election campaign in the charge of Narendra Modi, who he describes as a "divisive leader".
The BJP in Bihar, smarting from being dumped, is expected to formally announce on Wednesday morning that it will vote against Mr Kumar. There are 91 BJP state legislators.
Former chief minister Lalu Yadav has confirmed that the 22 legislators from his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD, will vote against the chief minister.
The CPI, which has one legislator, has said it will abstain.
When announced that he was ending his alliance with the BJP, Mr Kumar had said, "We cannot compromise with our principles. Whatever the consequences are, we will deal with them."
He attributed his decision to the placing its election campaign in the charge of Narendra Modi, who he describes as a "divisive leader".
The BJP in Bihar, smarting from being dumped, is expected to formally announce on Wednesday morning that it will vote against Mr Kumar. There are 91 BJP state legislators.
Former chief minister Lalu Yadav has confirmed that the 22 legislators from his party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD, will vote against the chief minister.
The CPI, which has one legislator, has said it will abstain.
