Bihar new CM, Jitan Ram Manjhi wins trust-vote; BJP walks out

Patna: The three-day-old Jitan Ram Manjhi government in Bihar on Friday won the trust vote in the state Assembly amid walkout by Opposition BJP. The confidence motion moved by Mr Manjhi was passed by members at a special session by voice vote.

The Manjhi-government managed to get the support of 145 legislators in the Assembly, whose effective strength presently is 237.

Besides 117 JD(U) MLAs, 21 of the RJD, four of the Congress, one of CPI and two Independents voted in favour of the trust motion while 88 BJP MLAs staged walkout before the motion was put to vote. After the trust vote, Mr Manjhi said he would soon expand his cabinet.

Former Chief Minister and JD(U) strongman Nitish Kumar slammed the BJP for staging a walkout and described it as a “cowardly” act. “The BJP walked out of House like cowards,”

Mr Kumar wrote on Facebook.