Arjun Munda wins trust vote

RANCHI - Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda, heading a Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government, Tuesday won a trust vote in the assembly four days after he was sworn in. He secured 45 votes in favour in the 81-member state legislature.

Jharkhand assembly Speaker C.P. Singh announced after division of votes that the house reposed trust in the Munda government. “A total of 45 votes were in favour of the trust vote and 30 against it.” Five legislators were absent during vote.

The five legislators who were absent included three jailed former ministers and independent legislators - Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai, Kamlesh Singh. The two other legislators who were not present were one of the Congress and the other of the Marxist Coordination Committee.

Earlier, the trust vote was moved by Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which is an alliance partner of the BJP.

The opposition members alleged that the government was formed at the behest of some Nagpur-based businessmen who had interests in mining.

“The Munda government has been formed at the initiative of three Nagpur-based businessmen. The government has been formed to take minerals outside of the state,” charged Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajantantrik legislator Pradeep Yadav.

The opposition also demanded that the state be declared a famine-hit state. The opposition termed the ruling alliance of the BJP, JMM, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) as “unholy” and said it would fall soon.

Replying to the trust vote, Munda appealed to the opposition parties to play the role of a constructive opposition and assured them he would work for the development of the state.

Munda staked claim to form the government Sep 7 with the support of 18 JMM, five of AJSU, two of JD-U and two independent legislators. The BJP has 18 legislators.

Munda was invited to form government Sep 10 after President’s Rule was revoked in the state. He took oath as the eighth chief minister of Jharkhand Sep 11, along with Sudesh Mahto of AJSU and Hemant Soren, son of JMM chief and former chief minister Shibu Soren.

Munda is expected to expand his cabinet soon. Under the constitutional provisions, he can have a maximum of 12 ministers, including himself, in the cabinet.