Awadh Bihari Chaudhary
Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, the speaker of the Bihar Assembly, who has been the target of a no-confidence motion by the recently established NDA government, resisted today. Prior to the start of the budget session on February 12, when the Nitish Kumar government is expected to request a trust vote, the senior RJD leader made it plain that he would not be leaving the position. “I am not going to resign. I will be in the assembly on February 12 and conduct proceedings of the House as per rules,” Mr Chaudhary told reporters.
Bihar Assembly speaker gets notice
It was brought to his attention that a Speaker cannot hold office while a no-confidence motion is pending, as per the BJP-led coalition that ousted Mahagathbandhan. Awadh Bihari Chaudhary replied, “As per rules, the Speaker should decide within 14 days of the receipt of notice for no-confidence motion. The same has been received by me only today.” With a slim majority, the NDA is cautious of conducting the floor test in the chaired capacity by a speaker from the main opposition party.
Chief Minister has all the power here it seems…
However, a senior BJP leader, who requested anonymity, said, “Mr Chaudhary needs to know that as the Leader of the House, the Chief Minister has the power to decide which business on the agenda of the House should be taken up first. So, the RJD leader may end up facing a situation in which he is voted out by the House. It is up to him to decide whether to face the ignominy or salvage his pride by resigning.”
Have a look at the flashback
Remarkably, in 2022, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left the NDA to establish a new government with the Mahagathbandhan, BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha also declined to step down. However, Mr. Sinha announced his resignation on the House floor, avoiding the no-confidence vote. He is now the deputy Chief Minister in the current NDA government. It is reportedly rumored that BJP leaders and former ministers Amarendra Pratap Singh and Nand Kishor Yadav are running for Speaker.
