Stephen not under anti-defection law : Babulal

Ranchi, Sep 13 (UNI) Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (Democratic) president Babulal Marandi today said Mr Stephen Marandi did not legally fall under the anti-defection law as the party was yet to be registered.

Talking to newsmen here, Mr Marandi said petitioner against the JVM leader, now an Independent MLA supporting the UPA, alleged that Mr Stephen Marandi won the election as an Independent but he later joined the JVM.

In the Arjun Munda government, Mr Ekka and Mr Singh were rebel Ministers, who along with Mr Madhu Koda and Mr Hari Narayan Rai (both Ind) resigned on September 5 reducing the NDA government to minority.

The pleader for Mr Ekka and Mr Singh wondered why the Speaker took more than a year to serve defection notice to them.

UNI AM-PRS SJC/SRC1955