Giving a new twist to political developments ahead of the crucial confidence vote next week, Jharkhand Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari on Thursday issued notices to two of the four ministers who resigned from the Arjun Munda Cabinet and an opposition legislator on petitions seeking their disqualification.
The speaker has called them for a hearing on September 11, three days ahead of the convening of the session for the trial of strength as directed by Governor Syed Sibte Razi after four ministers resigned and withdrew their support reducing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government to a minority in a House of 82.
While one of the ministers Enos Ekka has been called as part of the continued hearing of a petition against him filed in 2005, Kamlesh Singh belonging to the Nationalist Congress Party and Stephen Marandi of a Jharkhand Mukti Morcha faction have been called on petitions filed against them accusing them of changing parties, a disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Along with Kamlesh Singh and Ekka, Harinarain Rai and Madhu Kora, independent legislators, resigned on Tuesday reducing the National Democratic Alliance government to a minority.
The governor has directed the NDA government to prove its majority on the floor of the House on or before September 15.
"I have served notices to these three MLAs through courier to their residences," Namdhari told newspersons in Ranchi.
Asked what he would do if the trio did not appear before him, Namdhari said, "I can take an ex-parte decision."
Meanwhile, former chief minister and president of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Democratic) Babulal Marandi demanded the governor's intervention on the speaker's step.
"The speaker's step is irresponsible, immoral and against democratic values," he said.
Stephen Marandi is the general secretary of the JVM. The Arjun Munda Cabinet on Thursday decided to convene the assembly session from September 14 to take up the trust vote.
