Jharkhand: Honours to UPA as Munda quits CM post

Ranchi, Sep 14 (UNI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda today resigned without facing the trial of strength in the state Assembly, marking the collapse of the NDA government and Independent MLA from Jagannathpur Madhu Koda, propped up by the UPA, staked his claim to form an alternative government in the state.

Mr Munda submitted the resignation of his 18-month-old government to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi 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 that was to be introduced by the Chief Minister on the floor of the state assembly.

Speaker Namdhari, who was in the eye of a storm over his ruling earlier in the day, also put in his papers later in the say.

Mr Koda handed over a letter to Mr Razi this evening, claiming the support of 41 MLAs. The letter of two other MLAs supporting him would be despatched soon to the Raj Bhavan. Mr Koda requested Mr Razi to hold the swearing-in ceremony on September 17.

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