The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) is preparing to confront the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the legislature and take the fight to the public in the aftermath of Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar’s recent political manoeuvring that led to the RJD’s ousting from power.

At present, the RJD is maintaining a cautious approach and keeping its strategies under wraps, particularly in light of ongoing investigations by central agencies such as the ED and the CBI against party chief Lalu Prasad and his family members.

Two significant events are on the horizon for the RJD — a “no-confidence motion” against Speaker Awadh Bihari Chaudhary, an RJD MLA, and a trust vote for the new government, scheduled on February 12, coinciding with the beginning of the budget session of the legislature.

The power is finely balanced in the 243-member Legislative Assembly with the NDA, including the BJP, chief minister Nitish Kumar’s JDU, Hindustani Awam Morcha Secular, and an independent, having 128 MLAs.

The Grand Alliance, including the RJD, the Congress and the Left parties, has 114 MLAs. Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM has one MLA, who can throw his lot with the Opposition. A deviation of just seven MLAs, or an absence of a few more could create a possibility of another political change.

A meeting of senior leaders was held at Lalu and his former chief minister wife Rabri Devi’s residence in Patna on Saturday to discuss the strategy. Asked about the plans for the upcoming budget session, Rajya Sabha member and RJD national spokesperson Manoj Kumar Jha refused to divulge details but told The Telegraph: “We will raise the issues of the people. It is too premature to say anything about other things. We are not entering any contest.”

Sources believe that the RJD is indeed exploring the possibility of entering the number game during the trust vote.

Party spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary said: “The game is still on. The NDA boat is rocking due to the friction between its constituents. They have become allies, but their hearts have not united. All’s not well with it and something will happen.”

The party is also planning to go to the people to project the change of the government as a betrayal and plan for the coming Lok Sabha elections. “We will go to the public and seek their trust,” RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said.