Rabri retains ministers
PATNA, March 10 (PTI)
The reinstalled Rabri Devi Government in Bihar
today plunged into a crisis with four of the six
supporting Independent MLAs withdrawing their backing.
The Rabri Devi Government
had claimed support of 150 RJD MLAs, six members of the
Revolutionary Communist Party, as many Independents, a
nominated member and another JPP MLA for a majority in
the 324-member House.
With four of the
Independents vowing not to extend support to her
government, she could be bailed out only by the Congress,
which has agreed to lend an issue-based support to her
ministry.
The Independents who have
broken ranks are Mr Ramchandra Prasad Singh, Mr Saligram
Yadav, Mr Prahlad Yadav and Mr Tarkeswar Singh.
They charged the Rabri
Devi Government with taking their support for granted
while ignoring the complaint and suggestions made by
them.
"We will not tolerate
such an autocratic government, which takes others for a
ride, for its own vested interests," the Independent
MLAs said.
Mr Tarkeswar Singh
demanded that the Chief Minister have "a written
agreement with them and ensure that the interest of the
Dalits and cause of social justice is looked after."
RJD President Laloo Prasad
Yadav, however, said, he was unaware of the development
regarding the Independents.
The Congress has 29
members in the House.
Earlier, Chief Minister
Rabi Devi retained all 78 ministers of her erstwhile
Cabinet and said she would induct 15 new faces after
securing the vote of confidence in the state assembly.
Governor Sunder Singh
Bhandari administered the oath of office and secrecy to
40 Ministers of Cabinet rank and 35 Ministers of State at
an impressive function at Raj Bhavan.
Three Ministers of State,
Mr Surendra Ram, Mr Jitan Ram Manjhi and Mr Awadhesh
Singh, could not take the oath as they were away from the
state Capital.
Mrs Rabri Devi later told
reporters that she would induct 15 new faces keeping in
view "the mounting workload and approaching
elections" once she secured the vote of confidence
in the 324-member assembly.
The Governor, while
inviting Mrs Rabri Devi, to form the new government
yesterday after the revocation of President's rule, had
asked her to prove her majority in the House within 10
days.
Taking note of the
Congress and Left parties' demand for providing full
protection to the Dalits and the minorities in Bihar, the
Chief Minister said she would appoint senior minister
Ramai Ram and another RJD legislator representing the
minority community "as second in command with
additional responsibilities".
She said the name of the
minority representative would be announced within a week.
To a question, she said
she would effect a "minor reshuffle" of
portfolios of ministers which would be finalised by the
evening.
Mrs Rabri Devi, who was
sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time yesterday,
expressed confidence that she would win the confidence
vote with a "thumping margin."
She had yesterday
submitted a list to the Governor of 150 RJD MLAs, six
MLAs of the Revolutionary Communist Party, as many
Independents, one nominated member and another from the
Jharkhand People's Party in her support in the House.
The Congress, which has
announced issue-based support to the RJD Ministry, has 29
members in the state assembly.
Among prominent ministers
of Cabinet rank who took the oath were Mr Jagdanand
Singh, Mr Ramai Ram, Mr Mahavir Prasad, Mr Iliyas
Hussain, Mr Shanker Prasad Tekriwal, Mr Tulsi Singh, Mr
Upendra Prasad Verma, Mr Govardhan Naik, Mr Tulsi Das
Mehta, Mr Awadh Bihari Choudhury, Mr Abdul Bari Siddiqui,
and Mr Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav.
Others include Mrs Shanti
Devi, Mr Sitaram Das, Mr Ramnaresh Prasad Srinarayan
Yadav, Mr Munshilal Rai, Mr Ravindra Charan Yadav, Mr
Suryadeo Rai, Mr Ramvichar Rai, Mr Ramchandra Purve, Mr
Gajendra Prasad Singh, Mr Deonath Prasad, Mr Aklu Ram
Mahato, Mr Sitaram Singh, Mr Vijay Krishna, Mr Vaidyanath
Pandey and Mr Gulam Sarwar.
The Ministers of State
included Mr Mehendra Narayan Yadav, Mr Surendra Prasad
Yadav, Mr Sahdeo Prasad Yadav, Mr Harinarayan Singh, Mr
Lalbabu Prasad, Mr Ramdas Rai, Mr Shiv Shanker Yadav, Mr
Udit Rai, Mr K.B. Prasad, Mrs Abo Devi, Mr Rajendra Rai,
Mr Ramashray Sahni, Mr Ramautar Choudhury, Mr Girinath
Singh, Mr Vikram Kunwar.
Others included Mr Dilip
Kumar Singh, Mr Mahesh Mandal, Mr Arjun Mandal, Mr
Indradeo Prasad, Mrs Sita Sinha, Mr Ramlakhan Mahato, Mr
Shyam Rajak, Mr Muneshwar Choudhury, Mr Suresh Paswan and
Mr Ramprasad Yadav.
State assembly Speaker
Deonarayan Yadav, Legislative Council Chairman Jabir
Hussain, RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav, besides a host
of politicians were present.
The BJP-Samata combine
boycotted the ceremony protesting against the return of
the "incompetent, ineffective and corrupt" RJD
regime following the revocation of President's rule.

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