Munda Govt. to face trial of strength tomorrow

Jharkhand/New Delhi, Sept 13 (UNI) The Arjun Munda-government in Jharkhand, reduced to a minority on September 5 following the withdrawal of support by four MLAs, faces a trial of strength in the state assembly tomorrow, with the crisis managers of the ruling NDA and the opposition UPA trying to keep their respective flocks together.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, claiming support of 43 MLAs in the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly, demanded the dismissal of the state government and invitation to the UPA to form an alternative government in the state.

Party managers, who rushed to Ranchi, have been assigned the daunting task of keeping their members together till the show gets over.

In New Delhi, Mr Prasad (RJD) paraded 37 MLAs at a press conference, claiming the remaining six legislators would turn up in the assembly tomorrow to give a ''crushing defeat'' to Mr Munda.

Party sources said the 37 MLAs were being flown to Ranchi by a special plane.

The UPA MLAs were likely to be escorted back to New Delhi by Mr Prasad, besides Congress leaders Ms Noor Banu, Ms Mebel Rebello and Mr Oscar Fernandes.

On the NDA front, hectic parleys were on at the BJP office and at the Chief Minister's residence till late last night to draw up strategies for tomorrow's trial of strength.

The strength of the BJP-led NDA dispensation stood at 39, including Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari.

Meanwhile, the Congress said while the Jharkhand Speaker was within his rights to issue notice to three Independent MLAs who quit as Ministers, the manner in which he had fixed their hearing a day before the trial of strength ''smacked of a conspiracy.'' Senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu expressed confidence that the NDA will be able to prove its majority braving all hurdles, including the UPA's alleged threat to disrupt proceedings, using violent methods and force imposition of President's Rule.

Mr Naidu, who is handling the Jharkhand crisis on behalf of the party leadership, alleged that the Congress and the UPA were out to create instability by alluring the MLAs to their side with all kinds of promises.

Jharkhand plunged into a political crisis after four ministers quit the Arjun Munda-led government on September five and withdrew support to it, reducing it to a minority.

Those who resigned were: Mr Kamlesh Singh(NCP) and Mr Harinarain Rai, Mr Madhu Koda and Mr Enos Ekka (all Independents).

UNI TEAM MSJ AT RS1941