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Munda to prove majority on March 15

     Ranchi: Now, the newly installed Arjun Munda led- NDA government in the state will seek a vote of confidence on March 15. Earlier, Munda was to prove his majority on March 14. Governor Syed Sibte Razi had given the Munda government time till March 21 for holding the trust vote, however, Munda said that he would prove it on March 14. Meanwhile, celebrations are still on for the BJP in Ranchi after Arjun Munda was sworn in yesterday as chief minister for the second time. On March 12, BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Arjun Munda was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand at Ranchi's Morabadi grounds. Five other independent MLAs, Madhu Koda, Enos Ekka, Sudesha Mahato, Chandra Praksh Choudhary and Hari Narayan Rai, also took oath with Arjun Munda. The Jharkhand Pro-tem Speaker Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu tendered his resignation to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi on the same day. Munda took oath as the Chief Minister of the state after the 10- day-long political drama ended with Shibu Soren stepping down from the Chief Minister's post after failing to prove his majority in the state assembly as directed by the Supreme Court. It became quite evident on Friday that Soren would resign when the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs said that constitutional propriety demanded that Soren should resign. It was also said that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was upset at the constitutional "deadlock" created by former pro-tem Speaker Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu. Balmuchu failed to hold the trial of strength as he set himself on a collision course with the apex court.

Karia Munda is the new Jharkhand pro tem Speaker (Go To Top)

     Ranchi: Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Karia Munda was sworn in as Pro-tem Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly today. The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi at a simple function at Raj Bhavan here, which was attended among others by Chief Minister Arjun Munda and senior civil and police officers. Karia Munda, a former Union Minister, entered the Assembly from Khijri constituency. Munda has been a member of the Parliament for six times and had been an MLA twice. Earlier, Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu, who was appointed as the Pro-tem Speaker by the UPA government, during its brief stint in office, resigned from the post yesterday.

Wakf board notice to ASI on Taj (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Sunni Wakf Board has issued notice to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to show cause that why not the 17th century Mughal monument- the Taj Mahal- be declared a charitable Wakf property? The hearing on the application seeking this relief has been posted for hearing on April 19. The notice issued by the Wakf board says, "The board has received applications for the registration of Maqbara Shahjehan and Mumtaz Mahal property known as 'Taj Mahal' at Agra under provision of Section 36 of the Wakf Act, 1995'. The notice issued by the Chief Executive Officer of the board states, "ASI is requested to place its objections, evidence before the board that why the Taj Mahal, Agra, and its related properties as dedicated by Emperor Shahjehan through Wakf deed be not registered as charitable Wakf under the provisions of the Wakf Act, 1995".

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