Jharkhand Speaker Namdhari resigns

Close on the heels of the fall of the Arjun Munda-led National Democratic Alliance government in Jharkhand on Thursday, Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari quit his post.

Addressing a press conference, where he announced his resignation, Namdhari said "As I was a NDA candidate for the Speaker's post, I am resigning on moral grounds." Asked if he would reconsider his decision if requested by the United Progressive Alliance which has staked claim to form the next government, Namdhari, who was elected on a Janata Dal-United ticket said, "Such things don't happen and neither am I going to accept."

Earlier in the day, Namdhari had kept pending his verdict on the disqualification petitions of three MLAs, Enos Ekka, Stephen Marandi and Madhu Koda, who was later chosen as the consensus candidate of the UPA for the chief minister's post.

He said he had consulted constitutional experts throughtout Wednesday night and needed more time and made it clear that the three MLAs would be allowed to vote. Subsequently, Arjun Munda announced his resignation on the floor of the house and submitted his papers to the Governor.