Thin attendance in Bihar assembly triggers fresh speculations of BJP-JD(U) rift

A “boycott” of the remaining part of the monsoon session was announced during the lunch hour by the leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav

The ruling BJP in Bihar was left red-faced inside the state assembly on June 28 when the House was adjourned on account of thin attendance, with no member even of its ally, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's JD(U), turning up in the post-lunch session.

This was construed, by a section of the media, to be a nudge and a wink from the Chief Minister's party to the RJD-led opposition which has been disrupting the House since Monday over Agnipath. However, JD(U) leaders strongly denied insinuations to this effect.

A “boycott” of the remaining part of the monsoon session, which has two more working days to go, was announced during the lunch hour by the leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav, who railed against the Speaker not allowing a discussion on the Agnipath scheme.

He was joined by Left allies and Akhtarul Iman, the state chief of AIMIM, and legislators of these parties were predictably absent. The Congress, which has been maintaining that following estrangement with the RJD it was no longer a part of the “Grand Alliance”, also made itself scarce.

However, the absence of JD(U) members, and the failure of an adequate number of BJP MLAs to turn up after lunch was felt when the proceedings began at 2 P.M.

BJP MLA from Darbhanga Sanjay Saraogi began a discussion on the need for “rewarding” those who take an active interest in legislative business, citing the example of assemblies of some other states.