NDA deserters move SC against Jharkhand Speaker

NEW DELHI: In yet another twist to the power struggle in Jharkhand, three independent MLAs who had switched over from NDA today moved the Supreme Court challenging the disqualification notice slapped on them by the state assembly Speaker yesterday. The court will hear their petitions on Monday, the day the Speaker had directed the three to appear before him to decide the petitions seeking their disqualification from the House.

Following this, UPA managers held meetings in Delhi and Ranchi to chalk out the legal and political course of action. Meanwhile, JMM chief Shibu Soren announced in Ranchi that the UPA has decided to take the initiative to form an alternative government and its chief ministerial candidate will be announced in a day or two.

The three independent MLAs who had resigned from the Arjun Munda government, Enos Ekka, Stephen Marandi and Kamlesh Kumar Singh, in their petitions—before a Bench of chief justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker—urged the apex court to restrain the Speaker from taking action pursuant to the notice served by him. The MLAs sought the status quo should be maintained with regard to the number of members in the House till the Arjun Munda government proves its majority in the assembly.

Their legal representative also said that adequate security should be provided to them to ensure that they can attend the Assembly without any hindrance when the Munda government’s strength is tested on the floor of the House on or before September 15—as fixed by the Governor.

He alleged that there was a threat to the lives of the MLAs and referred to the incident of September 5, when four independent legislators who withdrew support from the NDA government were attacked at Ranchi Airport.

When the court asked him why the MLAs have not approached the Jharkhand High Court, he said, “Since there was a serious threat to security in Ranchi they have come here.”

To this, the Bench replied, “Is this the state of affairs of democratically elected representatives...?” In the petition, the three MLAs contented that since the Governor has already asked the Munda Government to face the floor test, nothing should be done to prevent it.They said by issuing notices on pending disqualification petitions, the Speaker was attempting to disqualify them from taking part in the floor test.

The Speaker had issued notices to them on the petitions seeking their disqualification under the provisions of 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

In Ranchi, the UPA leaders decided to stage a dharna in front of the state Assembly. The agitational programme was decided in an emergency meeting of the UPA, presided over by RJD’s state unit president Goutam Sagar Rana and attended by the leaders of Congress, the JMM and the RJD.

“The UPA constituents will hold demonstrations near the Speaker’s residence on September 10 and in front of the assembly on September 11 in protest against the undemocratic response by the Speaker to the petitions seeking disqualification of our MLAs,” Mr Rana told reporters soon after the meeting.

Union coal minister and JMM chief Shibu Soren said: “As the Arjun Munda government has been reduced to a minority, the UPA has decided to initiate an alternative government in the state.”

Asked whether the UPA could muster up the requisite number to stake its claim for an alternative government, Mr Soren said, “The UPA has upto 45 MLAs.” On being asked whether independent MLA Madhu Koda has emerged as the consensus choice to lead the UPA, Mr Soren said the subject had not yet been decided. “Reports can fly thick and fast, but the fact is that right now, there is no decision on the Chief Ministerial candidate.”

On whether he was himself in the running for the CM’s slot, Mr Soren, typically, claimed that “nobody is in the race.” He, however, did say that “the final stamp of approval” would be given by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi as “she is our guardian”.