Main Page                                                 Archive

Shibu Soren resigns

      New Delhi: Centre tonight said Jharkhan Chief Minister Shibu Soren should resign following his failure to prove his majority in the Jharkhand Assembly. And he has since resigned. Home Minister Shivraj Patil said after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs at the Prime Minister's residence that the possibilities of installing an alternative government should be explored expeditiously. The new government should be asked to seek the vote of confidence in three-four days. Patil said the Soren government failed to prove its majority and constitutional propriety demands that the incumbent government should resign immediately. He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his government are determined to see that the constitution is followed in letter and spirit. Earlier, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren was tonight summoned by Governor Sibtey Razi in the light of Assembly's failure to conduct a trial of strength. The summons from the Governor came amidst reports that Soren might be asked to step down before the Supreme Court deadline for the trial of strength expires tonight. Once he steps down the Governor may call Arjun Munda, leader of the BJP-led NDA to form the government.

BJP demands statement from PM over Jharkhand (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Dubbing the developments in Jharkhand as "complete breach of Constitution" and "subversion of democratic institutions" by United Progressive Alliance, an outraged BJP today demanded statements from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on the latest events. Soon after Jharkhand Assembly was adjourned till 15 Marach without undertaking the trial of strength, BJP general secretary and spokesman Arun Jaitley lashed out at Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi, state assembly pro-tem Speaker Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu along with the UPA and alleged that the Supreme Court's directions had been violated. "I think this is a complete onslaught on democratic institutions. "This is a complete subversion of democratic institutions and I can't resist saying that the UPA is a conspirator in this murder of democracy," he told reporters. The former union law minister said that "along with the UPA, the Governor, the pro-tem Speaker have completely participated in subverting democracy." Alleging that the UPA did not want to go for the trial of strength "as they don't have the numbers on their side", he charged that the development marked "complete breach of Constitution which provides for majority rule." The BJP leader asserted that "all options would be open (for the NDA) in a situation of this kind. "But before that, we would like to have the Prime Minister's reaction. He cannot be a mute spectator to this kind of subversion." Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) this evening at his residence to discuss the Jharkhand issue, official sources said.

Jharkhand Assembly adjourned till March 15 (Go To Top)

     Ranchi: After a number of adjournments, the Jharkhand Assembly was today adjourned till March 15. Despite the Supreme Court order, the UPA legislators prevented the trial of strength to take place throughout the day. State's parliamentary affairs minister objected to the pro tem Speaker conducting the trial of strength. The minister said such a Speaker does not enjoy such powers. As soon as the House met, the UPA MLAs rushed to the well of the House forcing several adjournments. This led to the pro tem Speaker, Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, to seek the intervention of the President to resolve the crisis. The BJP reacted strongly to the developments describing the events throughout the day in the state assembly as "perverse". Party leader Arun Jaitley said: "Today 41 MLAs were inside the assembly for the confidence vote, but there has been no outcome. This is a conspiracy in which the entire UPA leadership in involved, along with the Governor and the pro tem speaker." The NDA seems to have the numbers to oust State Chief Minister Shibu Soren. The coalition in the state has managed to keep its flock of 41 MLAs intact with the support of five Independents.

---