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Jharkhand issue rocks Parliament again

     New Delhi/Ranchi: The ongoing political stalemate in Jharkhand rocked proceedings in Parliament again on Thursday, with the treasury and opposition benches engaging in a verbal free-for -all in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha over the Supreme Court's directive to the Shibu Soren government to carry out the floor test on March 11 (Friday). Noisy scenes were witnessed in the two houses with leaders on either side of the political divide trading charges on the issue, even as the government agreed to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the matter. The issue was raised by Basudeb Acharia (CPI-M) in the Lok Sabha, his party colleague Nilotpal Basu took up the matter in the Upper House. In the Lok Sabha, as the verbal duel continued, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee had to inform them "I have called a meeting of leaders of parties where I will make my views. I have not allowed anything now." The din, however, continued despite repeated appeals by the Speaker to maintain calm. Back in Jharkhand, the two-day crucial session of the 81-member state assembly began under tight security. Thirty-three UPA legislators and an NDA MLA were sworn in as members of the state assembly by pro-tem speaker Pradip Kumar Balmuchu. The lone NDA member who took oath was JD(U) state president and former speaker Inder Singh Namdhari. Five Independent MLAs supporting the NDA also took oath of office.

      Meanwhile, three MLAs, including Jharkhand Irrigation Minister Kamlesh Kumar Singh, supporting the UPA were conspicuous by their absence at the ceremony. Besides Singh, the other two who were absent were Forward Bloc MLAs Aparna Sen and Bhanupratap Dehati. After the oath-taking ceremony, all the 41 MLAs extending allegiance to the NDA drove down to the Ashoka Hotel where they shall be esconced till Friday's crucial and significant floor test. Earlier, the 41 NDA legislators had arrived at the Ranchi airport from Rajasthan, where they had been sent in view of the developing political trends. The legislators appeared to be in an upbeat mood as they left Jaipur, a day ahead of the crucial vote of confidence in the state. Having spent a week in BJP ruled Rajasthan, the NDA appears confident that it's flock is intact.

BJP walks out of meet on Jharkhand  (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The BJP today walked out of the all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to discuss the Supreme Court order on the Jharkhand assembly. "Under Article 121(1), no discussion shall take place in Parliament of any order of the Supreme Court or High Court judges in discharge of their duties except for removal of judges," BJP leaders Jaswant Singh and V K Malhotra told reporters as they walked out of the all-party meeting midway.

77 MLAs take oath in Jharkhand, three of UPA stay away (Go To Top)

     Ranchi: Three MLAs from the UPA camp did not turn up for taking the oath in the Jharkhand assembly today, where 77 legislators, 36 of the UPA and 41 of the NDA, were sworn in as members of the 81-member House by pro-tem speaker Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu. The sources said, the three legislators supporting the UPA, who did not turn up, were Kamlesh Singh of the NCP and Aparna Sengupta and Bhanupratap Sahi, both of the Forward Bloc. In the NDA camp, all 41 members, including five independents Sudesh Mahato, Chandraprakash Choudhury, Enos Ekka, Madhu Kora and Hari Narain Rai took the oath. The protem speaker adjourned the House till tomorrow when the vote of confidence will take place. Security was tight outside the assembly premises, while inside proceedings were being recorded on video. Earlier, the 41 NDA legislators had arrived at the Ranchi airport from Rajasthan, where they had been sent in view of the developing political trends. The legislators appeared to be in an upbeat mood as they left Jaipur, a day ahead of the crucial vote of confidence in the state. Having spent a week in BJP ruled Rajasthan, the NDA appears confident that it's flock is intact.

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