Maheshwar Hazari, the Deputy Speaker of Bihar, steps down and is expected to join the Nitish Cabinet

Maheshwar Hazari of the governing JD(U) and deputy speaker of Bihar resigned on Wednesday.

The senior politician, who had served as a minister in the Nitish Kumar Cabinet, did not immediately give up his position. There is talk, nevertheless, that he could be included to the recently established Nitish Cabinet.
Hazari resigned from his position as Deputy Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, stating, “I have resigned voluntarily by keeping high command informed.” Whatever choice the party makes for me, as a committed soldier of the party, I will carry out my obligation with diligence and sincerity.”

Hazari represented JDU as an MLA four times. The Secretariat of the Bihar Legislative Assembly announced his resignation today.

Nitish’s abrupt adoption of the NDA
Bihar had a dramatic transformation, with the BJP leaders gaining power and numerous RJD ministers losing their positions. Unexpectedly, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar left his partner RJD and rejoined the BJP-led NDA, marking his sixth political change since 2015 and earning him the nickname “Palturam” from RJD.

On February 12, Nitish Kumar secured the confidence vote in the state legislature when 129 MLAs supported the proposal, despite the non-NDA members’ abstention from the meeting. A total of 129 lawmakers supported the resolution, but Kumar stood up to ask that the vote of JD(U) deputy speaker Maheshwar Hazari also be taken into consideration.

After a voice vote, Hazari proclaimed the motion carried. This was done at the behest of JD(U) president Kumar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who seconded the proposal.

In the 243-seat legislature, the NDA, which was made up of the JD(U), BJP, HAM of former chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, and one Independent, had a combined strength of 128. Three RJD MLAs, Prahlad Yadav, Chetan Anand, and Neelam Devi, switched to the governing party, giving it a shot in the arm, nevertheless.

As the chief minister won the trust vote, BJP MLAs, who had been thrilled with the party’s return to power after nearly 17 months, broke out into chants of “Jai Shree Ram.” The minister spoke for almost 30 minutes, airing his grievances against both the opposition INDIA bloc, which he had helped form, and former allies RJD and Congress.