Arjun Munda seeks early assembly by-poll
By IANSTuesday, January 11, 2011
RANCHI - Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda Tuesday said that the Election Commission (EC) should soon take a decision on holding a by-poll to the state assembly from Kharsawa constituency from where he wants to contest.
Munda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) needs to contest the by-poll in order to meet the constitutional requirement of becoming the member of state legislature within six months of being sworn-in chief minister. He has chosen to contest from Kharsawa.
“The EC has been informed about the assembly by-poll. The EC should soon take a decision regarding holding assembly poll,” Munda told reporters.
BJP legislator Mangal Singh Soy from the Kharsawa constituency quit his seat in November last year to facilitate Munda’s election to the assembly. The EC is yet to announce a date for the by-poll in the constituency.
Munda’s statement came a day after the Supreme Court issued notice to him for becoming a chief minister without being a member of the state assembly.
The court Monday, while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), issued notices to Munda, former chief minister Shibu Soren and Governor M.O.H. Farook.
Soren became the chief minister thrice without being a member of the assembly.
Munda became the chief minister for the third time in September last year. He was not member of the state assembly the, and continues to be a member of parliament.
