Jharkhand: Munda quits, NDA falls

Ads by Google

ibnlive.com is on mobile now. Read news, watch videos
be a Citizen Journalist. Log on to m.ibnlive.com NOW!

Related Stories

• LS nominee Munda faces query on infrastructure

• Jharkhand CM Shibu Soren loses Tamar by-poll

• Advani, Rajnath to campaign for NDA in Jharkhand

Photogallery

Find us on Facebook | Join IBNLive community

Stay ahead with G-Talk Buddy | Click now!

  

Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda on Thursday announced his resignation marking a pre-mature exit of the NDA Government in the state.

With the numbers heavily weighing against him, the beleagured Chief Minister announced his resignation on the floor of the state Assembly minutes before he was to take up a trust vote.

"The BJP-led coalition had got the mandate as the largest coalition during the last Assembly elections. But some of our colleagues have switched sides," Munda said in his brief speech in the Assembly referring to the resignation and withdrwal of support to his government by four ministers.

With the legislative arithmetic delicately poised and Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari reserving his ruling on the disqualification petitions of three MLAs, the Munda government was in the minority in the House of 82 members. All the 43 MLAs, whose support the UPA is claiming, were present in the Assembly for the trial of strength.

"We may have had some differences of opinion with them (MLAs) but I will not go into details about this. I would like to request that all of us have a duty to discharge for the sake of the people of the state," he said before proceeding to the Raj Bhavan to meet Governor Syed Sibte Razi to submit his resignation. He is likely to meet the Governor at 1230 hrs (IST) to tender his resignation.

Following Munda's speech, the Assembly was adjourned sine die.

Governor Syed Sibte Razi had earlier directed the trial of strength to be taken up after four ministers, Madhu Kora, Enos Ekka, Harinarain Rai, all independent legislators and Kamlesh Singh of the NCP quit and withdrew support to the government on September 5 reducing it to a minority.

After the four MLAs withdrew, the NDA was left with just 39 members -- BJP-30, JDU-6, AJSU-two and one nominated MLA -- in the 82-member house. The UPA, on the other hand, claims the support of 43 legislators.

Earlier, just an hour before the trust vote, Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari said he had kept his judgment pending on the disqualification of three MLAs.

Namdhari, who heard the counsels of the MLAs -- Enos Ekka, Kamlesh Singh and Stephen Marandi -- and had reserved judgment

on Wednesday, told a press conference on Thursday morning that he had consulted the Constitution and constitutional experts

throughtout Wednesday night.

He said he needed more time to delve into the constitutional aspects. He also made it clear that the three MLAs would be able to

vote during the trust vote. On his part, Munda is hopeful of a victory even though the UPA seems to have an edge in the Assembly.

The political crisis in Jharkhand reached its peak when UPA MLAs emerged from their hibernation on Wednesday and huddled at the Ranchi Ashoka, the same hotel that the NDA had used 17 months ago. On their part, NDA MLAs resorted to dinner diplomacy, with Munda playing host.

UPA MLAs quietly scored brownie points over the NDA by roping in Joba Manjhi, the UGDP MLA who didn't turn up in the Assembly last time during the trust vote in March 2005. She made it clear that her loyalties were with the UPA.

“We have support of 43 MLAs and we will stay together,” Manjhi said. With rebel minister and Jharkhand party MLA Enos Ekka supporting her, UPA seemed to be completely at ease.

JHARKHAND'S HISTORY OF POLITICAL UPHEAVEAL

In what was labelled as a blatant violation of democracy the then Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi in March 2005 swore in JMM leader Shibu Soren as the state's next Chief Minister.

The governor's decision to invite the UPA to form a government sent shock waves in Jharkhand as well as New Delhi, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) insisted it had the required support of 41 legislators to stake a claim to power.

The Congress-led alliance, of which Soren was a member, won only 26 of the 81 assembly seats, against 36 for the NDA in the state Assembly polls.

Fierce BJP protests took place outside the governor's residence. Protestors burnt effigies of Razi and shouted slogans against him.

The party had announced an indefinite shutdown in the tribal-dominated state to protest the decision.

Shops downed shutters and people retreated indoors as furious BJP supporters went on the rampage. At some places, rival groups clashed.

The move delivered a body blow to the office of the Governor and Razi was accused of behaving as a Congress henchman.

President Kalam then called upon Razi to explain the controversial decision, thus forcing him to order a trial of strength for the Shibu Soren government in Jharkhand on March 15.

(With agency inputs)