Bihar Assembly Speaker resigns ahead of floor test

Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha resigned from his post ahead of the floor test of the Mahagatbandhan government.

Sinha rejected the no-confidence motion against him. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who got sworn-in for the eighth time recently was about to prove majority on the floor today. The 'Mahagatbandhan' coalition claimed a majority of 165 legislators.

Addressing the Assembly, Sinha said he wanted to resign on his own, The Hindu reported. In his speech, Sinha 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 2pm. 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.

 “It had become incumbent upon me to respond to the motion. Some of the members moving the motion alleged that I had been undemocratic and dictatorial. This I cannot accept,” said Sinha.

With inputs from PTI