Bihar CM Nitish Kumar wins trust vote, calls for united opposition in 2024 Lok Sabha polls: Top developments

NEW DELHI: The newly-formed 'Mahagathbandhan' government in Bihar on Wednesday comfortably won the motion of confidence amid a walkout staged by MLAs of the BJP, which has been stripped of power as a result of the recent political upheaval in the state.
Altogether 160 MLAs voted in favour of the confidence motion while no vote was cast against the motion.
Here are the top developments through the day:
Speaker to be elected on August 26
After the confidence motion, proceedings were, subsequently, adjourned till Friday by the deputy speaker who also informed the House that on Thursday nomination papers will be filed for election of a new speaker, the post having fallen vacant upon resignation of BJP's Vijay Kumar Sinha.
The election for assembly Speaker will take place on August 26, said Maheshwar Hazari, deputy speaker.
BJP creates only trouble in society: Kumar
The chief minister, in his address in the assembly ahead of the trust vote, alleged that the BJP "creates trouble" in society and the opposition will visit every nook and corner of the country and make people and society aware of the wrong policies implemented by the government including the discrimination on the basis of religion.

"We (RJD and JDU) have taken the pledge to work together for the development of Bihar. Leaders from across the country called me and congratulated me on this decision and I urged all of them to fight together in the 2024 elections. Is there any work being done by Delhi (Centre)? Only advertisement is being done," Kumar said.
Questioning the BJP's role in the freedom struggle of the country, the Bihar CM alleged that they will "finish even Bapu" (Mahatma Gandhi).
"You were saying things about the 75th year of Independence. Where were you in the freedom struggle? In the end, they will finish even Bapu (Mahatma Gandhi). We have come together. We will put forward everything in front of every village and every section of society. Their only work is to create trouble in society. When everybody will come together, nobody will ask about them," he said.
BJP sends CBI, ED and I-T to states where it is not in power: Tejashwi
Stung by raids on a number of RJD leaders, Bihar deputy CM Tejashwi Prasad Yadav on Wednesday called the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax (IT) department "three jamaai" (sons in-law), which the BJP sent to states where it was not in power.
Taking part in a debate on the motion of confidence moved by the new 'Mahagathbandhan' government, Yadav accused the BJP of having tried to "break" CM Nitish Kumar's party in a bid to "wipe out socialist ideology".

"My father Lalu Prasad, mother Rabri Devi, my sisters and I are all paying the price for our commitment to socialism. The CM and I have the same ideology. You (BJP) cannot reap what we socialists have sown," said Yadav.
"People sitting in Delhi do not understand the spirit of Bihar. Intimidation does not work here. Sending three 'jamaai' is not going to scare us. The BJP is looking like a wedding procession without the groom," remarked the young leader in an apparent dig at the saffron party's inability to decide on who would now be the leader of the opposition.
BJP leaders rose in protest against the repeated use of the word "jamaai".
BJP lawmakers walk out of assembly
During the session, some Bihar BJP MLAs walked out of the assembly. Reacting to this, the CM said that they "must have got orders from your superior bosses" to say things against him. "You (BJP MLAs) are all running away? You will only get a position in your party if you say things against me. You all must have got orders from your superior bosses," he said.
Vijay Kumar Sinha resigns as Bihar assembly Speaker
Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha announced his resignation on the floor of the House on Wednesday after an emotionally charged speech in which he expressed anguish over the no-confidence motion moved against him by the ruling 'Mahagathbandhan'.

Sinha, who belongs to the BJP which now stands stripped of power in the state, left the House in turmoil as he adjourned proceedings till 2 pm. He made a hasty exit from the House, and MLAs of the BJP, almost all of whom were wearing saffron scarves and raising slogans like 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Jai Shri Ram', followed suit.
BJP attacks Nitish
Senior Bihar BJP leader Tarkishore Prasad accused Kumar of having lost "political credibility".
Prasad mocked Kumar's "personal ambition to become the prime minister despite not having the ability to become the chief minister on his own steam".
"Personal ambition caused him to ditch BJP in 2013 and again nine years later," said the BJP leader who also raked up sidelining of leaders like George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav by Kumar to make his point, drawing angry response from JD(U) members.
(With inputs from agencies)