Voice Of Post

Bihar Speaker recognises JD(U) as main opposition party, BJP protests, Patna: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs on Thursday staged protest against Bihar Assembly Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary for recognising Janata Dal (United) as the main opposition party.

The BJP MLAs staged protest outside Speaker’s office, accusing him of being biased. The protests came after the Bihar Assembly Speaker today recognised JD(U) as the main opposition party, granting status of leader of opposition to Vijay Chaudhary.

The Speaker's move came after the JD-U had earlier demanded recognition as the main opposition party and separate sitting arrangements in the Assembly in view of the upcoming trust vote.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav, who was the leader of opposition in the Assembly until now, returned all the facilities granted to him.

Opposition BJP in Bihar has hinted at voting in favour of embattled Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi during the February 20 trust vote with all its MLAs unanimously supporting such a move aimed at send "a strong reply to Nitish Kumar for humiliating a Mahadalit".

The BJP's unanimous view emerged during a meeting of its Legislature Party at the residence of Sushil Kumar Modi here, where all party MLAs felt that the way former chief minister Kumar has "humiliated a Mahadalit" he should be taught a lesson.

Earlier on Tuesday, the JD(U) suspended seven MLAs owing allegiance to Manjhi, ahead of the February 20 trial of strength for him on the floor of the Bihar Assembly.