E-Paper
Marandi sees trouble in ministerial expansion
"I am surprised over the delay in ministerial expansion and portfolio distribution... I think all is not well in the NDA," Marandi said.
Former Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi on Thursday said he smelt a rat in the NDA camp following 'abnormal' delay in expanding the ministry and distribution of portfolios even after nearly a fortnight passed since the Arjun Munda ministry was sworn in.
"I am surprised over the delay in ministerial expansion and portfolio distribution... I think all is not well in the NDA," Marandi told newsmen.
Seeking to know as to why Chief Minister Arjun Munda had been taking 'so much' time in 'settling his ministerial team', Marandi said "you can understand the problem of the NDA...Whom to include in the team and whom not to".
However, Chief Minister Arjun Munda dismissed any such apprehensions asserting the task would be a smooth affair and would be completed very soon.
The expansion was scheduled to be carried out on Thursday.
The Opposition Leader in the Jharkhand Assembly, Sudhir Mahto of the JMM, said, "The government is walking on crutches, which indicates its instability".
Replying to the claim that he should also came under the anti-defection law, Stephen Marandi dismissed such reports and clarified that he was an Independent MLA and not (not) in the JMM.
Marandi had contested the Dumka seat against JMM chief Shibu Soren's son Hemant after being denied party ticket - prompting former MLA KN Sinha yesterday claiming Marandi should be brought under the act as he contested as Independent despite being a Rajya Sabha member under JMM's quota.
