Patna, April 23 — Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Thursday declared that the newly constituted government led by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary is fully prepared to prove its majority in the Bihar Legislative Assembly through a confidence vote, expressing unwavering certainty about the outcome. Speaking alongside JD-U state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha at a press conference held at the party office in Patna, Choudhary outlined the government's roadmap and addressed a range of pressing political issues.

Government Confident Ahead of Trust Vote

Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary stated that the floor test will be conducted shortly and that the ruling coalition is confident of comfortably securing the required numbers. He emphasised that the government has been constituted under the direct guidance and blessings of veteran leader and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and will faithfully carry forward his development-oriented governance model.

"The government is new, but its direction remains the same," Choudhary said, signalling strong ideological and administrative continuity. This framing is significant — it positions the new dispensation not as a break from the past, but as an extension of Nitish Kumar's decade-long governance legacy, a strategic move aimed at reassuring voters and coalition partners alike.

Cabinet Expansion and Policy Priorities

The Deputy Chief Minister confirmed that a Cabinet expansion will be undertaken after the government successfully proves its majority on the Assembly floor. Once the expanded Cabinet is in place, the administration intends to accelerate implementation of its policy agenda, focusing on political stability, infrastructure development, and governance continuity.

This sequential approach — trust vote first, Cabinet expansion second — reflects a cautious political strategy, ensuring that the government consolidates its legislative standing before distributing ministerial portfolios, which are often the most sensitive negotiations in coalition politics.

Choudhary Hits Back at Opposition Over Fiscal Claims

Responding sharply to Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav's criticism of Bihar's financial health, Choudhary asserted that the state's fiscal position is stronger than at any previous point. He challenged the opposition to account for its own record during the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led government's tenure in power.

This counter-offensive is notable given that Bihar continues to rank among India's lowest per capita income states, according to government economic data. Critics argue that while infrastructure spending has increased under Nitish Kumar's successive governments, indicators like unemployment rates and out-migration remain stubborn challenges. The government's claim of fiscal strength will likely face scrutiny when the state budget figures are presented for public review.

On the reported restrictions on land transactions in 11 districts, Choudhary clarified that no blanket ban exists. He said the limited, temporary restrictions apply only to specific localities where active development projects are in progress — a clarification aimed at calming concerns among property owners and real estate stakeholders in those regions.

Liquor Ban, Bengal Violence, and Party Outreach

On the state's liquor prohibition law, Choudhary defended its legal standing, stating that its validity cannot be undermined by individual opinions since it was passed through consensus in the Bihar Legislative Assembly. The prohibition, introduced by Nitish Kumar in April 2016, has remained a politically sensitive issue, with ongoing debates about its enforcement effectiveness and economic impact on lower-income households.

Addressing election-related violence in West Bengal, Choudhary squarely blamed the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), holding the ruling party responsible for the incidents — a statement that reflects the JD-U's broader alignment with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) narrative on governance in opposition-ruled states.

On the upcoming Bihar tour by Nishant Kumar, scheduled to begin from May 3, Choudhary welcomed the initiative as a positive step toward strengthening the party's grassroots outreach and organisational presence across the state.

What Comes Next for Bihar's New Government

The immediate political calendar for Bihar is now centred on the confidence vote in the Legislative Assembly, after which a Cabinet reshuffle and expansion will follow. Political observers will closely watch whether the government can maintain coalition discipline, particularly given the complex arithmetic of the NDA alliance in the state.

With Bihar Assembly elections on the horizon in 2025, every administrative decision and political signal from the new government carries electoral weight. The trust vote will not just be a procedural formality — it will serve as the first public test of whether the Samrat Choudhary-led dispensation can hold together the diverse coalition that brought it to power.