Bihar Assembly Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, against whom the newly formed NDA government has moved a no confidence motion, on Wednesday dug in his heels.
The senior RJD leader made it clear that he will not resign from the post before the commencement of the budget session on February 12, when the Nitish Kumar government is also scheduled to seek a trust vote.
‘I am not going to resign. I will be in the Assembly on February 12 and conduct proceedings of the House as per rules,’ Chaudhary told reporters.
It was pointed out to him that according to the BJP-led coalition, which has snatched power from the Mahagathbandhan, a Speaker cannot be in the chair with a no confidence motion pending.
He replied, ‘As per rules, the Speaker should take a decision within 14 days of the receipt of notice for no confidence motion. The same has been received by me only today.’
The NDA, which enjoys a slender majority, is wary of the floor test
being conducted with a Speaker from the main opposition party in the chair.