Chief Minister Arjun Munda resigns

Ranchi, Sep 14 (UNI) Ending nine days of political uncertainty, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda today resigned without facing a vote of confidence in the state assembly after his government was reduced to a minority in the wake of the resignations of four of his ministers on September 5.

After announcing his decision to step down, the Chief Minister rushed to the Raj Bhavan where he submitted his resignation to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi.

Mr Munda's decision came shortly after Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari reserved his ruling on the disqualification of three rebel legislators and allowed them to vote on the motion of trust in the NDA Government on the floor of the state assembly.

The 18-month-old BJP-led NDA government in the state was reduced to a minority after the resignations of the four ministers on September 5. The rebel Ministers - Mr Kamlesh Singh(NCP) and Mr Harinarain Rai, Mr Madhu Koda and Mr Anos Ekka (All Independents) - joined the Opposition UPA, taking its tally to 43 in the 82-member House.

As the extended monsoon session began at 1100 hrs to take up the floor test for Mr Munda, the Chief Minister, after a speech in which he spoke about some of the developmental projects initiated by his government as also on coalition politics, announced his decision to resign.

The Munda-led NDA government enjoyed the support of 39 members after the resignations of the four ministers.

Earlier in the morning, the Speaker reserved his verdict on three Legislators - Mr Enos Ekka, Mr Kamlesh Singh and Mr Stephen Marandi - facing disqualification charges, and allowed them to vote in the trust motion.

The Governor had asked the Chief Minister to prove his majority by September 15.

The NDA now comprises BJP (30), JD-U (6) including the Speaker, AJSU (2) and Nominated (1).

The UPA consists of JMM (17), Cong (9), RJD (7), UGDP (2), Forward Bloc (2), including the expelled MLA from the party, CPI-ML (1), Independent (1) and four rebels from the NDA.

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