Opposition boycotts Governor's speech over Bhanu issue

Ranchi, Mar 2 (UNI) The Opposition today shouted slogans and boycotted the House on the first day of the budget session in Jharkhand over allotment of seat to suspended Forward Bloc MLA Bhanu Pratap Shahi in the treasury bench.

The Opposition started voicing discontent when Governor Syed Sibtey Razi was reading out his speech.

As the business began at 1100 hrs with Mr Razi rising to deliver his speech, the opposition raised the issue involving Mr Shahi, whose induction in the Madhu Koda government last month as Health Minister prompted the Forward Bloc to withdraw support from the government.

Health Minister Mr Shahi sat among the ministers in defiance of FB's stand though his party members sought separate seat for them.

Ms Aparna Sengupta, the other member of the Forward Bloc, was conspicious by her absence though her seat was reserved among the Opposition.

The opposition, comprising BJP and JD(U), demanded in front of Speaker Alamgir Alam that the FB members be placed among them. They kept shouting slogans as the Governor went on with his delivery of the speech.

Then the opposition, excluding CPI member Vinod Kumar Singh, boycotted the proceedings.

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