UPA MLAs of Jharkhand rushed to Delhi

Ranchi, Sep 21 (UNI) UPA MLAs in the newly appointed Madhu Koda government in state have rushed to New Delhi to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her approval to the appointment of Deputy Chief Minister and eight other ministers.

The final decision on distribution of portfolios in the Madhu Koda government in Jharkhand is likely to be taken today.

Highly placed sources today told UNI that more than 25 MLAs from the UPA, excluding the Congress, have gone to New Delhi to meet Ms Gandhi.

Sources said about eight names were doing the final rounds and the name of Sudhir Mahto from the JMM was being considered for the Deputy Chief Minister's post.

All the MLAs would return this evening by a special flight and oath taking of new ministers is likely to take place tomorow.

Sources said the Speaker's name for the state Assembly has not been finalised till now as Governor Syed Sibtey Razi had appointed Mr Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu as an officiating Speaker.

Former Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi was against the Speaker's post and had refused to become a minister in the Koda cabinet.

Discussion on this issue is likely to take place in the national capital.

Mr Marandi was not available for his comment.

UPA-backed Independent MLA Madhu Koda was sworn-in as Chief Minister along with three other Ministers on September 18.

The new government proved its majority yesterday amid boycott from the BJP-led NDA. The treasury benches bagged 41 votes and the lone CPI-ML member, Vinod Singh, voted against the trust motion.

According to constitutional provisions, the number of ministers in the Madhu Koda cabinet should not exceed more than 12 including the Chief Minister.

Mr Koda, with his three ministers, had already taken oath on September 18 and the main fray is for the remaining eight ministerial berths.

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