Rabri wins trust vote

PATNA, July 28: The four-day-old Rabri Devi Ministry in Bihar today won a facile confidence vote in the State Assembly by 194 to 110 with t...

PATNA, July 28: The four-day-old Rabri Devi Ministry in Bihar today won a facile confidence vote in the State Assembly by 194 to 110 with the support of the Congress, Jharkand Mukti Morcha JMM-S and Independents.

Besides 136 MLAs of her own Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Chief Minister secured votes of 28 of the Congress, 16 of JMM S, 10 Independents and two each of JMM Mardi and JPP. Rabri Devi, is likely to expand her 14-member Rashtriya Janata Dal ministry tomorrow. Highly-placed RJD sources said that the expansion would be fairly large with nearly 40 new faces likely to be inducted into the council of ministers.

Rabri Devi, who assumed office on July 15 following resignation of her husband, Laloo Prasad Yadav, had retained 14 ministers of the erstwhile RJD ministry.

According to Raj Bhavan sources, the swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place tomorrow afternoon. While six CPI ML members boycotted today8217;s special session, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker did not participate in the voting and the remaining 12 were not present in the House for various reasons.

Rabri Devi, today gave a glimpse of earthy humour belying an image of operating as her husband8217;s shadow.

The Bihar Assembly was plunged into laughter when Rabri Devi said that she was prepared to shift her husband, Laloo Prasad Yadav, out of her official residence and to the house of opposition leader, Sushil Kumar Modi.8220;You are my elder brother 8230;.. I am prepared to shift my husband to your house,8221; she told Modi when he said that Yadav should not be allowed to stay at the Chief Minister8217;s residence following filing of chargesheet against him in the fodder scam.

Though Modi, a comrade-in-arms of Yadav during the JP movement days, said that he would prefer her to be his bhabhi8217; sister-in-law, Rabri Devi retorted, 8220;I made you my brother first 8230;.. No change in relationship now.8221; A laughing Yadav turned to the Speaker asking him to give a ruling on his relation with Modi. 8220;Adhyaksha ji aap jadli se apna niyaman dijiye ki mera Modi ji se kya rishta hai.8221; Mr Speaker, Sir now first give a ruling on what relation I have with Mr Modi.

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In the 324-member State Assembly, the RJD government required support of 163 MLAs for its survival, but its task was made easier when the CPI ML legislators boycotted the proceedings, saying the House was convened in 8220;undue haste.8221;

Rabri Devi, whose surprise elevation to the post had drawn criticism from various opposition parties, repeated the success of her husband and predecessor, Laloo Prasad Yadav, who had won a trust vote in the House on July 15.

In fact, her victory was even more emphatic as she secured 194 votes compared to Yadav8217;s 168 with the Congress striking a conciliatory posture following the latter8217;s resignation in the wake of issuance of arrest warrant against him in the fodder scam.

The Congress had abstained from voting on confidence motion brought by Yadav on July 15.