Jharkhand CM in a fix over speaker's post

JMM is also insisting the CM not to include any tainted Independent MLAs in the cabinet

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM),chief minister, Hemant Soren is in the midst of dilemma over the demand of the Speaker's post by the Congress and equal number of ministers that JMM will hold in future in the cabinet. The Party is also insisting the chief minister not to include any tainted Independent MLAs in the cabinet as agreed both the party before formation of the coalition government.

The Congress which had been instrumental in the formation of the 9th government in the state headed by JMM's Hemant Soren, has put its demand for the Speaker's post while chief minister Hemant Soren already proposed this coveted post for the JMM MLA, Shashank Sekhar Bhokta.

Congress sources here said the name of the Speaker will be decided after adjournment of the current Assembly session on July 27, discussing the matter with the Congress high command in presence of the present cabinet led by chief minister Hemant Soren of the JMM, Rajendra Prasad Singh of the Congess and Annapura Devi of the Rashtrya Janata Dal (RJD).

Assembly Speaker, C P Singh of the BJP resigned on the next day of the crucial voting in the Assembly on July 18,.flouting all speculations that the Speaker would not resign until the ruling party raised no-confidence against him in the House. During ongoing session, the Governor Syed Ahmed will deliver his address on July 25 in the Assembly. A supplementary budget for 2013-14 is likely to be tabled in the House. The state cabinet in its 2nd meeting after swearing in ceremony selected senior JMM legislature Simon Marandi as pro tem Speaker to conduct the proceedings of the Assembly tll the time of the new Speaker is appointed. MLA SimonMarandi, an accused in the 2010 Rajya Sabha poll horse-trading case will conduct the Assembly proceedings till such time the two alliance partners - Congress and JMM finalise a new name of Speaker.

The state cabinet in its 2nd meeting after swearing in ceremony selected senior JMM legislature Simon Marandi as pro tem Speaker to conduct the proceedings of the Assembly tll the time of the new Speaker is appointed.