Janata Dal-United leader Inder Singh Namdhari and Rashtriya Janata Dal legislator Annapoorna Devi on Monday filed their nominations for the post of the speaker of the Jharkhand assembly.
Chief Minister Arjun Munda proposed Namdhari's name as the National Democratic Alliance candidate.
If Namdhari is elected speaker, then the NDA's strength on the floor of the House will be reduced to 40 in the 81-member house during the trust vote, which will be taken up on Tuesday.
However, Namdhari can still sway the numbers in NDA's favour with his casting vote in the event of a tie.
The NDA is also trying to rope in ailing Nationalist Congress Party legislator Kamlesh Singh to its side.
Talking to reporters after filing nomination, Namdhari appealed to the MLAs to keep the speaker's post out of controversy.
He hoped that Annapoorna Devi would withdraw her nomination, so that he could become the consensus candidate for the post.
However, UPA coordination committee convener Stephen Marandi rejected the appeal and said the alliance would 'fight it out' during the speaker's election on Tuesday.
Earlier reports:
SC disposes of Arjun Munda's petition
UPA to contest Jharkhand speaker's post
Jharkhand trust vote on Mar 15