07-Feb-2024 11:23 PM
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Patna/New Delhi Feb 7 (Reporter) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday pledged not to make any more "U" turns in the rest of his political career after meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kumar, who called on PM Modi for the first time after joining hands with the BJP to form the NDA government in Bihar, told media persons that it was a good meeting. He had talked to PM Modi on the phone a few days ago after deciding to join hands with the BJP, and now it was a courtesy call that did not require any political meaning, he stated.
"I will not go anywhere from now and continue with the BJP, a long-term partner of JD(U) since 1995, barring a few years during the period," the Chief Minister asserted. He was very pleased to meet PM Modi, he noted.
Kumar, responding to queries from media persons on seat sharing between the JD(U) and BJP for the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar, said the issue would be settled smoothly and amicably. He did not respond to further queries from media persons regarding the prevailing political scenario in Bihar.
Kumar is scheduled to seek the trust vote of his new government in the Assembly on February 12. At present, Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, a senior RJD MLA and close confidant of party chief Lalu Prasad, is the Speaker of the Bihar Assembly. BJP and JD(U) leaders have given notice of no confidence against Chaudhary to ensure smooth sailing of the trust vote of the NDA government.
On the other hand, Chaudhary has declared that he would not resign from the post of Speaker. The NDA government, comprising JD (U), BJP, and HAM as ruling partners, has a strength of 128 MLAs with the support of the Independent, while the Grand Alliance, comprising RJD, CPI (M), CPI, and CPI (ML), has 115 MLAs with the support of one MLA from AIMIM. In the Bihar Assembly, which has a strength of 243 MLAs, 122 is the magic number to form the government...////...