Stephen's reluctance to take charge sending wrong signal:Soren

Dumka, Oct 25 (UNI) Jharkhand Agriculture Minister Nalin Soren today said Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi's reluctance of taking charge of the alloted departments till date was sending a ''wrong signal'' among the people.

Mr Soren told newspersons here that Mr Marandi's reluctance to take charge even after two weeks had adversely affected the departments.

The Deputy Chief Minister was given additional charge of Finance and Parliamentary Affairs but he is still bargaining hard for the Energy portfolio.

Mr Soren said the UPA's steering committee scheduled to be convened on October 27 and 28 will decide the ''problems and demands'' of the Minister.

However, he assured Mr Marandi would not quit the UPA and asserted that the Madhu Koda government would complete its tenure in office.

Mr Soren appealed to the allies of the UPA to work as a united force for the uplift of the state.

Referring to the agriculture sector in Jharkhand, he said in the next fiscal adequate fund would be expended.

He claimed that the energy sector had not been getting due attention since the division and hoped the UPA government would earnestly try to address the problem.

Meanwhile, the febrile Mr Marandi has been advised rest. He reached his constituency yesterday.

UNI XC-PRS MQA HT1840