Anglo-Indian to be nominated to Jharkhand assembly

The United Progressive Alliance in Jharkhand on Friday said it will nominate an Anglo-Indian to the state assembly before the trial of strength on the floor of the House.

"The formality will be taken up before the confidence vote," Girinath Singh, a minister in the Shibu Soren government said.

Asked whether it was ethical, he said: "If the Nitish Kumar government in 2000 could do it in the Bihar assembly, why can't we?"

Besides the 81 elected members, the Jharkhand assembly has the provision of one nominated legislator from the Anglo-Indian community. The Governor makes the nomination.

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Alleging that the National Democratic Alliance has illegally confined Enos Ekka in Rajasthan, he claimed the independent MLA will support the UPA during the confidence vote.

Singh said Ekka's Jharkhand Party has lent a letter of support to the UPA and added that the latter contested on a Rashtriya Janata Dal ticket.

He, however, did not comment on Hari Narain Rai, who also figures in both NDA and UPA lists.