NCP criticises Jharkhand Speaker Namdhari

Ranchi, Sep 10 (UNI) The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today came down heavily on Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari for keeping silent over defection issue of NCP legislator Kamlesh Singh for the last 18 months.

NCP MLA Mr Singh was served a showcause notice, along with two other Legislators Anos Ekka and Stephen Marandi, under Anti-Defection Law.

The NCP, during the last assembly polls, issued a whip to vote against the NDA in the state. but Mr Singh went against the whip and supported the BJP-led NDA government.

He has been serving the Arjun Munda government as a cabinet minister for last 18 months.

State NCP President Nesar Alam Khan here said that Mr Namdhari should have issued defection notice to Mr Singh when he supported the BJP-led NDA government against the party whip 18 months back.

Mr Khan allegedly said Kamlesh Singh was served the defection notice because he decided to join hands with the opposition and form an alternative government in the state.

He said, ''Mr Namdhari has been using 'unfair means' to help the Arjun Munda government, which was reduced to minority after four of its ministers--Mr Kamlesh Singh, Anos Ekka, Madhu Koda and Harinarain Rai--resigned from the Munda cabinet on September 5.'' Mr Khan alleged that being a legislator from JD (U), a mojor NDA partner, Mr Namdhari wanted to save his chair.

UNI AM JYN YA RAI1831