In the midst of a brewing political crisis in Bihar, 16 Congress MLAs are set to relocate to Hyderabad this week as a precautionary measure. The move comes ahead of a crucial trust vote scheduled for February 12, where the newly formed NDA government will seek approval. The MLAs are expected to stay in Hyderabad until February 11, guarding against potential poaching attempts.
Bihar Congress President Akhilesh Singh confirmed the development, stating that the decision was taken to prevent any attempts to lure away party members. This relocation strategy mirrors a similar move by members of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha following a recent Chief Ministerial change in their state.
The decision has not been without criticism, with political leaders in Hyderabad expressing concern. K Kavitha, a leader of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti, accused the Telangana government of ‘sponsoring’ the Congress at the expense of the public, sparking a debate over the appropriateness of such measures.
#WATCH | Congress MLAs from Bihar gather at the Hyderabad airport, Telangana.
The floor test of the newly elected NDA government in Bihar is likely to happen on February 12.
(Source: MLA) pic.twitter.com/t0f58SDkZP
— ANI (@ANI) February 4, 2024
The political landscape in Bihar witnessed a significant shift last month when key Opposition leader Nitish Kumar rejoined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and took oath as Chief Minister for a record ninth time. The INDIA bloc, which suffered a blow with Kumar’s departure, is now gearing up for the upcoming floor test, with parties cautious about potential poaching attempts.
Seat sharing talks within the mega alliance have faced hurdles, as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann announced their decision to go solo in their respective states for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. This further adds to the complexity of the political dynamics within the opposition camp.
In a related development, the Samajwadi Party announced the names of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, offering 11 out of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh to the Congress. Meanwhile, top Congress leaders held a meeting to review the political developments in Bihar, discussing the future course of action in the absence of Nitish Kumar from the opposition INDIA bloc. The political scenario remains dynamic, with the floor test in Bihar and ongoing seat-sharing negotiations shaping the landscape in the lead-up to the elections.
Comments