The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in Jharkhand was on Thursday defeated on the floor of the assembly with the passage of a cut motion.
Chief Minister Babulal Marandi faced trouble with seven ministers announcing their resignation when the House was discussing the cut motion on the demand for grants by a ministry.
The opposition welcomed the seven -- Energy Minister Lalchand Mahato, Sports Minister Baidyanath Ram [both from the Janata Dal-United], Tourism Minister Joba Manjhi [All Jharkhand Students' Union-United Gomantwadi Democratic Party], Revenue Minister Madhu Singh, Excise Minister Ramesh Singh Munda, PHED Minister Jhaleswar Mahato [all three of the Samata Party] and Science and Technology Minister Samresh Singh [Jharkhand Vanachal Congress] -- into its ranks and insisted on an immediate vote on the cut motion.
As Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari appeared inclined to agree to their demand, Mines and Geology Minister Ravindra Rai sought to checkmate the move with an impromptu motion of no confidence against the Chair.
In the midst of the din, the speaker put the cut motion to vote and announced that it had been adopted by a voice vote.
The speaker was escorted out of the House as the ruling legislators attempted to hurl chairs at the opposition members.
Marandi said that his government was still in majority.
He said the speaker, against whom a minister had proposed a no-confidence motion, should have given up his chair in favour of his deputy.
Marandi also claimed that there was no voice vote, as the speaker was escorted out and the House was adjourned indefinitely.
He said that he received the resignation letters of the ministers only after the House was adjourned.
In Patna, the Rashtriya Janata Dal said it would extend support to the formation of a non-BJP government in Jharkhand.
RJD national spokesperson Shivanand Tiwari told rediff.com said his party was keeping a close watch on the developments in Jharkhand.
