NDA urges J'khand Guv to prevent FB MLA from becoming minister

Ranchi, Sep 29 (UNI) The Opposition NDA in Jharkhand today urged Governor Syed Sibtey Razi to ensure that Forward Bloc MLA Bhanu Pratap Shahi, facing criminal charges, was not made a minister in the UPA-backed Madhu Koda government.

A party delegation of NDA leaders, comprising state BJP president Yadunath Pandey, senior party leader Karia Munda, deputy persident Ramtahal Choudhary, party's chief whip C P Singh and its allies JD(U) leader Radha Krishna Kishore, met the Governor and handed over a memorandum asking him to desist Mr Shahi from becoming a minister in the Koda cabinet.

State BJP president Yadunath Pandey talking to UNI said the NDA leaders told the Governor that there were about 14 criminal cases registered against the FB MLA adding the cases were of criminal nature.

Mr Pandey said the Governor was also made aware that most of the cases were registered in the erstwhile Bihar and the present Koda government was trying to close the matter to accomodate Mr Shahi in the government.

Mr Pandey said the governor had assured the NDA delegation that he would ensure that the constitutional provisions are implemented.

The name of Mr Shahi was recommended by the Koda government to accomodate him in the government, but the governor refused to administer oath to him as police issued arrest warrant against the MLA.

The BJP said yesterday it would take the matter to court and go even to the President, if required.

According to constitutional provisions a maximum number of 12 ministers, including the Chief Minister, could be taken in the cabinet and the present Madhu Koda government had eight ministers after its first expansion on September 24.

According to political analysts providing a ministerial berth to the FB MLA was a political compulsion for the UPA-backed Madhu Koda government as in 82-membered Jharkhand Assembly it had the support of 41 MLAs.

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