Arjun Munda seeks time to prove majority

Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda Wednesday sought time from Governor Syed Sibte Razi to prove his government's majority on the floor of the house.

Munda met Razi shortly after noon along with leaders of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and All Jharkhand Students' Union (AJSU).

"We have asked the governor to give us time to prove majority on the floor of the house," said Munda after the meeting.

The governor has not given any time frame to prove majority. Sources close to the governor said he would decide on the time frame later and inform the chief minister.

The Munda government was reduced to a minority after four rebel ministers Tuesday resigned from his cabinet and withdrew support to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime.

The four ministers are: Madhu Koda, mines and parliamentary minister, Enos Ekka, transport minister, Harinarayan Rai, forest minister, and Kamlesh Singh, irrigation minister.

Singh belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Ekka to Jharkhand Party (JP). The rest are independents.

In the 82-member house, the Munda government now enjoys support of 39 legislators, including one nominated member and the speaker.

After putting in their papers, the four ministers flew back to New Delhi Tuesday night to chalk out their future strategy.

NDA leaders were reportedly trying to poach the legislators of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). The five of the seven RJD members were considered to be unhappy with their state leadership and speculation has been rife about their switch to the BJP.

Leaders of the opposition United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were also holding parleys in New Delhi and drawing up strategy to form an alternative government.

According to political observers, Koda is ahead in the race for the chief minister's post.

(IANS)

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