Countdown To Bihar Trust Vote: Congress Legislators Return From Hyderabad Resort Amidst Tense Political Climate

With less than 24 hours remaining until the critical trust vote in Bihar, Congress legislators, who had been relocated to Telangana for a week, have now returned, according to a report from The Hindu.

The Congress legislators' flight touched down at Patna airport after 7 pm today, and from there, they will proceed directly to the residence of former Deputy Chief Minister and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav.

Amidst speculation of the JD(U) attempting to orchestrate a split in the Congress before the newly-formed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government faces a floor test in the Bihar Assembly, the Congress high command had decided to relocate its MLAs to Hyderabad.

The Bihar MLAs have been accommodated in a private resort in Ibrahimpatnam, and they are expected to stay in the city until the floor test, scheduled for 12 February.

The 'Mahagathbandhan', comprising the Congress, RJD, and Left alliance, lost power less than a month ago following JD(U) president and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's unexpected return to the BJP-led NDA.

Despite the NDA's comfortable position, holding a combined strength of 128 MLAs in the 243-member state assembly, the Congress, with only 19 MLAs, has been apprehensive about potential defections ahead of the trust vote.

This may have prompted the decision to relocate its legislators to the southern state.

Meanwhile, RJD legislators, who were initially gathered at Yadav's residence on Saturday for a luncheon but were subsequently asked to remain until the trust vote, appear to be enjoying a festive atmosphere.