Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 285 Wed. March 16, 2005  
   
International


Munda wins trust vote in Jharkhand


The Arjun Munda government in Jharkhand yesterday comfortably won a vote of confidence in the 81-member assembly in the absence of three UPA MLAs including the lone NCP member and also got its nominee elected as the Speaker.

Bringing curtains down on the fortnight long political drama enacted after the elections threw a hung assembly, the ruling BJP-led NDA got its nominee Inder Singh Namdahri elected as Speaker in a voice vote amidst uproar by the opposition members.

Later after a 15-minute break, the new Speaker allowed Chief Minister Arjun Munda to move his motion of confidence. But as the opposition UPA members trooped to the well of the House, the put the motion to vote. After asking those in support to raise their hands, he declared the motion of confidence has been carried by 40 votes.

Later outside the House, he told reporters that the opposition count was 37.