Ranchi: The political crisis in Jharkhand witnessed a fresh twist on Thursday when Assembly Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari issued notices to two of the dissident MLAs --- Enos Ekka and Kamlesh Singh --- along with Stephen Marandi for various reasons on separate petitions appealing for their disqualification under the 10th Schedule.
"I have decided to serve notices on these three MLAs through courier and though newspaper advertisements," Namdhari said.
"While a petition is already pending against Ekka for the last one-and-a-half years, I have received two separate petitions against Singh and Marandi," he said, adding that he has asked the three MLAs to be present along with their lawyers on September 11 at his court.
Asked what would he do if the trio did not appear before his court, Namdhari said: "I can take ex-parte decision."
While Enos Ekka and Kamlesh Singh were served the notices for defying the party while Marandi was issued the same for contesting Assembly elections without resigning as a Rajya Sabha member of JMM.
Namdhari said he had received a joint petition from two BJP MLAs, Saryu Roy and Dinesh Sarangi, who accused NCP MLA Kamlesh Singh of violating Section 102(2) of the 10th Schedule by 'switching over sides three times'.
"The two BJP leaders said Singh had first joined Shibu Soren Ministry last year before joining the NDA coalition. On September 4 this year, he joined UPA which attracts the anti-defection law," the Speaker said, quoting the duo's petition.
In another petition, two other BJP MLAs Putkar Hembrom and Chandresh Oraon had petitioned against independent MLA Stephen Marandi, seeking his disqualification under the 10th Schedule as he had allegedly joined Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (democratic), which, they said was a political party.
On Enos Ekka, Namdhari said he had already held a couple of hearings on a petition filed by Jharkhand Party president
N E Horo, who alleged that Ekka had flouted the party whip during the formation of the Arjun Munda Government last year.
Asked why he chose to call the court ahead of the trust vote by September 15, the Speaker said: "Strike when the iron is hot so that a message will goes across on what happens to those who frequently change sides."
Stephen Marandi had floated JVM late last year as a non-political outfit and was joined by former chief minister Babulal Marandi subsequently. Last month, Stephen Marandi had announced that JVM would be known as JVM-Democratic, but would continue to be a non-political outfit. He is its general secretary, while Babulal Marandi is its president.
Namdhari had earlier rejected the petitions against Stephen Marandi filed by former MLA Kamlakant Sinha and Mohril Murmu, a losing candidate saying that the case in no way came under the 10th Schedule for disqualification as he did not join any political party after his election as an independent.
One of them had moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of Stephen Marandi's election as an independent MLA while being a JMM member in Rajya Sabha and contesting against the party's official candidate.
The apex court on September 4 last year issued notices to the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly and Stephen Marandi. The fresh petition by BJP MLAs Chandresh Oraon and Putkar Hembrom, claimed that the Speaker's judgment on the issue should be reviewed since JVM-D had become a political outfit, Namdhari said.
Meanwhile, Governor Syed Sibtey Razi has asked Assembly Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari to arrange for video recording and direct telecast of the House proceedings by electronic media during the trust vote for the Arjun Munda Government.
The Governor has informed the Speaker about his decision to allow the Arjun Munda Government to prove its majority on or before September 15 so that all arrangements could be made, a Raj Bhavan communique said.
Speaking to journalists after getting the information, the Speaker said he would conduct the House in 'a free and fair manner'.
The Speaker could cast his vote only in case of a tie in the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly that includes nominated MLA Joseph P Galstone. A nominated legislator can vote during a floor test, but not on money bills.
About the status of Bhanu Pratap Sahi after his expulsion by the All India Forward Bloc for anti-party activities, the Speaker said he would be an unattached member. He, however, could not join any political party as it would attract provisions of the Anti-Defection law.
(With agency reports)
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