A day after the formation of the new NDA government in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Cabinet held its first meeting on Monday. Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha along with other ministers attended the meeting at the state's secretariat. During the meeting, the government decided to call off the Budget Session of the Assembly which was slated to begin from February 5.
Eight ministers took oath
On Sunday evening, besides Nitish Kumar and the two Deputy Chief Ministers, BJP's Prem Kumar, JD(U) leaders Shravan Kumar, Vijendra Yadav, and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Santosh Kumar Suman, and Independent MLA Sumit Kumar Singh were sworn in as ministers. Kumar was sworn in by Governor Rajendra Arlekar at Raj Bhavan, hours after he resigned from the post.
Speaking to the media, Kumar said a total of eight people took oath on Sunday as ministers, and the names of the remaining ones will be decided soon. "The cabinet will be expanded soon," the CM said.
Nitish to hold meeting with JD(U) MPs
Meanwhile, CM Kumar and the JD(U) chief has also called a meeting of all his MPs in Patna on Monday. According to sources, Kumar is likely to discuss the changed political situation ahead of the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament.
'No question of leaving NDA-fold now': Nitish
After taking the oath as Chief Minister of Bihar for a record ninth time, Kumar asserted that there is now no question of leaving the NDA-fold. "I was with them (NDA) earlier, too. We went on different paths, but now we are together and will remain so. I came back to where I was (NDA), and now there is no question of going anywhere else," the 72-year-old leader added.
No-confidence motion against Assembly Speaker
Meanwhile, BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav has submitted a notice of a no-confidence motion to the Assembly Secretary against Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, who represents the RJD. Yadav, in the notice, expressed the lack of confidence in the present Speaker since the new government assumed power. The motion, co-signed by notable figures such as former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, former Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad, JDU's Vinay Kumar Choudhary, Ratnesh Sada, and several other MLAs, aims to initiate the removal of the Speaker under Rule 110 of the Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules of the Assembly.
What does the rule say?
There is a resolution to remove the Speaker under Rule 110 of the Procedure and Conduct of Business Rules of the Assembly. In adherence to the established protocol, the Speaker targeted by the no-confidence motion will be required to abstain from presiding over the House during the proceedings.
ALSO READ: Bihar: No-confidence motion notice against Assembly Speaker in new NDA govt’s first blow to RJD
