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Munda to induct five more into ministry
Five legislators, three from BJP, two from JD (U) and 'NCP's' Kamlesh Singh, were expected to take oath during the ministry expansion on March 29.
Five legislators - three from BJP, two from JD (U) - and 'NCP's' Kamlesh Singh, who had incurred his party's wrath for defying its directive to support the UPA, were expected to take oath during the ministry expansion of Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda on March 29.
Emerging out of a NDA meeting at his residence, Munda replied in the affirmative when asked whether three from BJP and two from its ally JD (U) would be inducted in the ministry whose current strength is six.
Asked who would be the new entrants into the ministry, Munda said, "You would know on the D-day."
Besides the BJP and JD (U) legislators, Kamlesh Singh, who is yet to take oath as MLA, was expected to take oath as one of the ministers. "Yes, I am," Singh cryptically replied to a related question after attending the meeting.
On March 16 a faction of the NCP's Jharkhand unit led by its president and former MLA Dhruv Bhagat merged with the BJP in the presence of BJP president Raghuvar Das. However, another section led by NCP spokesman Lal Babu Singh Patel, following its national leadership's instructions, contested the claim.
Das had then said that Kamlesh Singh, the NCP winner at the hustings, was among those who joined the BJP.
With Singh attending the NDA meeting, the decks are now clear for him to join the Munda Cabinet and publicly announce his decision to join the BJP, said a senior BJP leader.
Singh's move had incurred the wrath of NCP central leadership in past with its national General Secretary Tariq Anwar stating Singh would face action if he flouted the party's directive of supporting the UPA.
The Munda ministry now comprises Sudesh Mahto, Madhu Kora, Enos Ekka, Chandra Prakash Choudhuri and Hari Narain Rai besides the Chief Minister himself. Portfolios are yet to be distributed among the ministers.
After the induction of six new ministers, the strength of Munda ministry would go up to 12, very much within the constitutional limit on the size of the ministry.
Meanwhile, the UPA has convened a meeting on Monday at 9 am, two hour ahead of the session, which meets after the Holi vacation. The RJD leader, Girinath Singh, said they would discuss on the house membership issue of Kamlesh Singh and Enos Ekka.
Kamlesh Singh, who is yet to take oath as MLA, is in the eye of storm along with Ekka as the opposition has been demanding disqualification of both.
The UPA claims the two fall under the Anti-defection Act because they had "flouted" their respective party directives to support the UPA.
