After resignation four Ministers return to Delhi; Munda confident

Ranchi, Sep 5 (UNI) Dealing a body blow to the 18-month-old BJP-led NDA government in Jharkhand, four Ministers tendered their resignations, reducing Chief Minister Arjun Munda's regime to a minority today even as Mr Munda expressed confidence about proving his majority at an appropriate time.

With the four Ministers urging the Governor to dismiss the Munda government, the Chief Minister, who returned from New Delhi tonight, said here that he had faced such situations earlier too which were tackled by him aptly.

Mr Munda hoped the Governor would give him an opportunity to prove his majority in the House.

The Governor said he would take decision on the resignations according to the provision of the Constitution.

In fast changing political development, the four Ministers after personally putting in their papers here tonight flew to the national capital to have crucial confabulations with the UPA Central leadership to elect the leader of an alternative government.

No sooner than the NDA government plunged into the deepest crisis since its coming to power, had the UPA got busy cobbling together an alternative government reportedly headed by Mr Madhu Koda (Ind), Minister in the present ruling dispensation, who led the latest revolt against the BJP-led coalition.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Madhu Koda, Rural Development Minister Anosh Ekka and Forest Minister Harinarayan Rai after returning from New Delhi by a chartered flight rushed to the Raj Bhavan.

The dissident trio was accompanied by Water Resources, Food and Civil Supply Minister Kamlesh Singh, who also tendered resignation to the Governor.

After calling on Mr Razi, Mr Koda said they urged the governor to ensure protection of theirs citing the ''unpleasant'' behaviour meted out to the Water Resources, Food and Civil Supply Minister by police at Jamshedpur last night.

Mr Koda said he was misbehaved by BJP supporters at the airport on his arrival from New Delhi adding his car was also attacked.

After the resignation, the Munda government was reduced to 38 in the 82-member House.

The NDA now comprises BJP (30), JD-U (6) and Independents (2) while the the Opposition consists of JMM (17), Congress (9), RJD (7), CPI (ML)(1), UGDP (2), Forward Bloc (2) and Independent (1).

The four Ministers before calling on the Governor faxed their resignation papers to the Raj Bhavan.

In the morning, the dissidence-torn BJP-led NDA government plunged into further crisis with Mr Singh announcing to resign from the government following his alleged detention by police in Jamshedpur on his way to Kolkata.

The three dissident Ministers X X X Eds: here pick up from line one para two of CA 49, POLITICS-JHARKHAND-NIGHT LEAD RESIGNATION TWO LAST RANCHI.

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