Munda asked to prove majority by Sept 15

With odds heavily stacked against him, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda was on Wednesday asked to prove his majority in the assembly on or before September 15 after he sought an opportunity for a floor test.

Governor Syed Sibtey Razi, whom the beleaguered chief minister met on Wednesday morning, asked Munda to prove his majority in the assembly on or before September 15, Amit Khare, principal secretary to the Governor, said.

The Governor's decision follows Tuesday's resignation of four ministers Enos Ekka, Harinarayan Rai and Madhu Koda (all Independents) and Kamlesh Singh (Nationalist Congress Party), and their withdrawal of support to the Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal (United) coalition after which it had been reduced to a minority.

Munda, who sought the meeting with the Governor, expressed confidence that he will be able to prove his majority.

"My government is in the majority, and I am confident of proving my strength. I expect the House to be convened to give me a chance honouring the democractic system," the chief minister told newspersons after meeting the Governor in Ranchi.

"I reminded the Governor about how the Supreme Court, in the S R Bommai case, held that the floor was the perfect place to prove majority."

The National Democratic Alliance coalition had the support of 42 legislators in the 82-member assembly. But with the resignation of the four ministers, it has been reduced to a minority. The chief minister said he had also reminded the Governor of the events after the assembly elections in 2005 when he had given time to opposing groups to prove majority in the assembly.