J'khand Speaker reserves verdict on disqualification

RANCHI: Giving the opposition United Progressive Alliance (UPA) an edge in the trust vote on Thursday, Jharkhand Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari declared that he was reserving judgment on the disqualification petition against three legislators -- who would therefore have voting rights.

Addressing a press conference shortly before Chief Minister Arjun Munda seeks a trust vote in the assembly, the speaker said he had not decided on whether or not to disqualify Stephen Marandi, Enos Ekka and Kamlesh Singh. "But they would have voting rights," he said.

Unless they are disqualified, they are legislators and have a right to vote, he said, adding that judgment would be pending till the next order.

The ruling is clearly bad news for Munda.

Former ministers Ekka and Kamlesh Singh as well as Madhu Koda and Harinarayan Rai are the four who had withdrawn support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government reducing it to a minority.

At present, the Munda government enjoys support of 39 legislators, including the speaker, in the 82-member house.

The UPA says it has the support of 43 legislators and is confident of ousting Munda.