Patna HC rejects pleas challenging Nitish government

The Patna High Court on Monday dismissed two petitions challenging the formation of a new government by Nitish Kumar's JD-U along with the BJP, a government lawyer said.

After hearing the petitions, the court dismissed them on the ground that the new government in Bihar was formed as per constitutional process and had won the trust vote in the Assembly. The court said it could do nothing in the situation.

On Friday, after a brief hearing on the matter the court adjourned the matter till Monday.

Of the two petitions, one was filed by Jitender Kumar and the second by Rashtriya Janata Dal legislators Saroj Yadav and Chandan Kumar Verma.

They contended that the mandate in the 2015 Bihar Assembly polls was given to the Grand Alliance of the Janata Dal-United, RJD and Congress led by Nitish Kumar, against the BJP, and that it was to rule for five years.

They also said that despite the RJD being the largest party in the Assembly, Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi did not invite it to form the new government after Nitish Kumar dumped the Grand Alliance.

The petitions said this was against the Constitution and the court should intervene and dismiss the newly formed JD-U-BJP coalition government.

Nitish Kumar resigned on July 26 after dumping the Grand Alliance over corruption charges. He aligned with the BJP to form a new government.

After winning the trust vote on Friday, Nitish Kumar has expanded his cabinet and distributed portfolios to newly inducted Ministers.

--IANS

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