Chief minister Arjun Munda firmed up his return to Jharkhand?s top post on Tuesday after winning the vote of confidence in the assembly. His crucial task ahead is to induct nine ministers in his cabinet and distribute portfolios among them.
Munda notched a victory in the confidence motion with a margin of 15 votes?45 in favour and 30 against?in the House of 81. This had become a fait accompli after two developments took place. One, with the Munda administration clearing his name as a representative of the Anglo Indian community, H Glen Joseph Gaulstein took oath this morning as a nominated MLA, with the right to vote.
Two, four Independent MLAs?Bandhu Tirkey, Madhao Lal, Enos Ekka and Harinarain Rai, the last two were in jail?and All India Forward Block?s Arup Chatterjee belonging to the Opposition, remained absent.
Munda called an all-party meeting to discuss the issues connected with drought. Due to the deficit rains this monsoon, the state administration during President?s rule, had declared all 24 districts of the state as drought hit.?We want a consensus to deal with this crisis?, said Munda.
The job to fill up nine vacancies in his cabinet and distribute portfolios among them is far from over. Although Munda has not opened his cards, the ruling coalition comprising BJP, JMM, All Jharkhand Students Union, and JD(U) are expected to share these posts in the ratio of two, four, two and one respectively.
Among the legislators who are likely to find a berth in his cabinet are BJP?s Arun Mandal and Baidhnath Ram; JMM?s Champai Soren, Hazi Hussain Ansari, Mathura Mahato and Hemlal Murmu; AJSU?s Chandra Prakash Choudhary and Kamal Kishore Bhagat; and the JD(U)?s Sudha Choudhary.
?I have made my desire public. Now it is upto Guruji?, says Sita, daughter-in-law of JMM chief Shibu Soren. Guruji had earlier ensured his son Hemant becomes deputy CM.