Bihar assembly speaker recognises Laloo's party

The Rashtriya Janata Dal, led by Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav, was formally recognised by Bihar assembly speaker Deo Narayan Yadav late on Wednesday night.

Assembly secretary Gopaljee told United News of India in Patna that 136 RJD members had been recognised and a notification in this regard had been issued.

Gopaljee said a written statement by 136 legislators -- out of the group of 165 Janata Dal legislators -- had urged the speaker to recognise them as RJD members.

Earlier, the speaker told UNI that all the conditions for the RJD's recognition had been fulfilled. Deo Narayan Yadav said Laloo Yadav had given him a signed list of 135 RJD legislators besides 11 independents.

Twentynine legislators are still with the Janata Dal and the RJD will have to muster the support of at least 30 legislators to prove its majority in the House.

Laloo Yadav claimed that the 11 independent legislators and the Congress/Jharkhand Mukti Morcha groups in the assembly had assured him of voting in the RJD's favour during the vote of confidence.