Patna, June 18: The battlelines are drawn for tomorrow’s special session of the Assembly called by the chief minister to seek a vote of confidence for his government.

The last time a special session was held was 13 years ago, on April 24, 2000, to vote on the reorganisation of the state and carve out Jharkhand.

Tomorrow’s session could well shape and redefine future political alliances in Bihar. Nitish is expected to sail through the trust vote: he needs the support of four members to reach the magic number of 122 in the 243-member House.

Indications are that the Janata Dal (United) would get the backing of four Independents and the Congress is likely to abstain. Upbeat JD(U) sources said the government would get more than the required figure of 122.

Nitish, who today thanked Prime Minster Manmohan Singh for describing him as a “secular leader”, was, however, ambiguous on whether the Congress would support his government. “Who knows what will happen tomorrow,” the chief minister said.

After the Prime Minister’s “endorsement” of Nitish, local Congress leaders have fallen in line. “Nitishji’s decision to snap ties with the BJP was belated but the right decision,” said state party president Ashok Choudhary. He said he has sought guidelines from the high command on the strategy for voting during the confidence vote.

The Congress, which has four members in the Assembly, is expected to either vote in favour of Nitish in the name of helping secular forces, or boycott the voting — a move which would help the government.

The sole CPI member will vote in favour of the government. During the 1990s, the Left considered Lalu Prasad as its natural ally. The alliance lasted for a decade before it snapped. With its influence waning in the state, the CPI considers Nitish an ally now that the JD(U) has parted ways with the BJP.

The RJD, which many felt would not vote along with the BJP on the floor of the House, has announced it would go against the government. “Let the BJP do what it wants,” RJD chief Lalu Prasad said. “Our party had launched the Parivartan agitation and my vote will be for a parivartan (change) in governance. Besides, Nitish is a parrot of L.K. Advani. His moves are dictated by Advani, the man who was responsible for the demolition of the Babri Masjid.”

Lalu refused to speak on the growing proximity between the Congress and JD(U). “Every political party has its own strategy,” said the RJD chief who has been trying to curry favour with the Congress for a long time.

Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Abdul Bari Siddiqui (he is bound to lose the post as the BJP will be the largest Opposition block in the changed scenario) justified the decision, saying it was a confidence vote and not a no-confidence vote moved by the BJP.

The BJP does not appear to be taking the vote seriously. “We have no plan to unseat the government. We want it to survive. Our focus is on the next Lok Sabha polls,” said a senior leader.