Munda govt faces threat as 3 Ministers resign, approach UPA

Ranchi, Sep 4 (UNI) The embattled BJP-led government in Jharkhand -- possessing a razor-thin majority of three in the Assembly -- today came under a major threat amid reports that three Ministers had resigned their posts and were in touch with the opposition UPA to form an alternative government.

The ministers Madhu Koda, Anos Ekka and Harinarayan Rai are believed to be in contact with the UPA leaders to dislodge the Arjun Munda government in the state, which has a strength of 42 in the 82-member assembly.

According to sources, senior Congress leader and political advisor to Sonia Gandhi, Ahmad Patel, had a confidential meeting with the trio. However, the main hurdle was the Chief Ministerial nominee on which no consensus had been reached yet.

Sources said the Congress and the RJD were in favour of Madhu Koda but the JMM did not agree. The name of Teklal Mahto, a JMM legislator, was also doing the rounds for the chief minister's post.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister refused to accept the resignation of any of the ministers but has cancelled all his programmes and was busy trying to defuse the crisis.

Sources close to Mr Munda said senior party leaders had advised Mr Munda not to accept the demands of the three ministers and rather sit in the opposition.

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