No-confidence motion against Koda govt defeated

Ranchi, Dec 18 (UNI) The first no-confidence motion moved by the combined opposition against the 15-month-old UPA-backed Madhu Koda government was defeated by eight votes with the Treasury bagging 41 votes in the Jharkhand Assembly today.

Speaker Alamgir Alam then adjourned the House sine die and announced that next session would be held last week of February next year.

After six-and-half-hour debate that began at 1500 hrs, Speaker Alamgir Alam asked the members to stand who supported the motion.

The Opposition NDA bagged 33 votes against the Treasury's 41.

The Chief Minister replying to the motion said his government had total support of the UPA allies and the Opposition was making baseless allegations against them.

He made a veiled attack on Leader of Opposition Arjun Munda.

Initiating the debate for the motion, Arjun Munda said the aspirations of the people were razed to ground with the installation of this government.

He also brought several allegations against the allies of the ruling UPA in the state. Several members from both opposition and treasury spoke during the debate.

The motion was finally defeated settling the sands at least for the next two months.

UNI