M A I N   N E W S

NDA, RJD head for showdown
Contest certain for Speaker’s post

PATNA, March 8 (PTI, UNI) — The Opposition RJD today fielded a Congress nominee Sadanand Singh in the election for Bihar Assembly Speaker’s post tomorrow ensuring a trial of strength ahead of the confidence vote to be sought by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday.

The ruling NDA, whose efforts for consensus failed, decided on the candidature of Gajendra Prasad Himanshu of JD(U) for the post.

Both of them filed their nominations before expiry of the deadline at noon today.

While four sets of nominations were filed on behalf of the NDA candidate, three were submitted in favour of Sadanand Singh.

Emerging from Assembly Secretary’s chamber after the filing of nomination, a confident-looking Chief Minister told reporters that he was dismayed at the RJD-Congress action as he sincerely wanted to avoid a contest for the Speaker’s post which was above ‘petty party considerations.’

“We wanted to have a consensus on the issue to maintain the lofty parliamentary traditions of the ruling party occupying the Speaker’s post and the Opposition getting the post of Deputy Speaker,” he said.

He said even after Sadanand Singh’s name was floated as RJD-Congress-CPM’s joint choice, he contacted senior Congress leader Ajit Jogi and Sadanand Singh over phone to have a consensus on his (Sadanand’s) name.

“But since they (RJD and allies) unilaterally decided to press ahead for a contest we have accepted the challenge,” he said adding “I am ready to prove my strength on any number of occasions.”

He lauded the five-member CPI group for supporting the NDA stand for a consensus on the Speaker’s post.

RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav told reporters that his party had already rejected Mr Nitish Kumar’s government as “illegal and unconstitutional” and so no purpose could have been served by evolving a consensus on the issue.

“The RJD and all supporting secular and democratic parties strongly disfavoured a consensus as we command absolute majority in the 324-member House and have pledged to overthrow this illegal regime,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Congress Legislature Party has issued a whip to all its 23 MLAs asking them to vote against the NDA candidate.

The party’s decision came amid speculation of a split in the Congress ahead of the trust vote on

Friday. In the 324-member House, the required number for a majority has been reduced to 162 as RJD President Laloo Prasad Yadav and JD-U member Narendra Singh have won from two seats each.

The RJD combine claims to enjoy the support of 160 MLAs (RJD-123) Congress-23, BSP-5, CPM and Revolutionary Communist Party two each, Marxist Coordination Committee-one and four Independents).

On the other hand, the NDA has claimed the support of 122 MLAs besides that of the 12 members of JMM-S, two of UGDP and 15 Independents.

The NDA is also banking on the support of CPI and backing of some “rebels” of the Congress.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata Dal Legislature Party Leader Rabri Devi was today accorded the status of the Leader of the Opposition in the state Legislative Council.

A notification to this effect was issued here during the day. Mrs Rabri Devi replaces Congress Leader Umeshwar Prasad Verma.

Pro-tem Speaker Bisheshwar Khan administered the oath to 10 members during the pre-lunch session while 12 members took oath during the post-lunch session in the House.

Bihar issue rocks Houses
Tribune News Service and agencies

NEW DELHI, March 8 — Even as the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, today announced that the government had no objection to hold discussion on the RSS issue under Rule 184 in the Lok Sabha, proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were rocked on the Bihar issue.

Soon after the Lok Sabha assembled here this morning, Mr Vajpayee said that the government had no objection if the discussion on the RSS issue, which had commenced under Rule 193 may now be held under Rule 184 (which requires voting).

Today the Bihar issue cropped up again with the RJD members continuing their protest against the installation of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government which they said did not have the numbers to prove majority.

The MPs belonging to the RJD alleged that the NDA government in Bihar was “indulging in large-scale horse-trading” ahead of its trial of strength on Friday.

The morning session was adjourned till lunch by the Speaker, Mr G.M.C. Balayogi, after RJD members stormed the well of the House. When similar scene was repeated after the recess, the Deputy Speaker, Mr P.M. Sayeed adjourned it for the day.

The RJD members also protested against the remarks made by the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, that the Bihar Governor, Mr Vinod Pande had taken an independent decision as a constitutional authority in inviting the NDA to form the next government.

The House also held a brief discussion to mark the International Women’s Day with women members demanding the passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill during the current session.

In Rajya Sabha, the Bihar issue came up soon after question hour when Opposition members belonging to the RJD, Congress and Left, were on their feet protesting against the Governor’s decision.

The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned for the day without transacting any legislative business for the third consecutive day today as a determined opposition created an uproar demanding immediate discussion on the Bihar issue.

Even as the House was to take up a discussion on the motion of thanks to the President’s Address, the RJD, Congress and Left party members sprang to their feet, making a noisy demand to discuss the conduct of the Bihar Governor in inviting the NDA to form the government in the state in “an undemocratic way”.

Amid the din, papers were laid on the table by Home Minister L.K. Advani and a few of his ministerial colleagues.

As Opposition members rushed to the front benches shouting their demand, Chairman Krishan Kant sternly asked them to go back and in the same breath adjourned the House for the day.

CPI to abstain

PATNA, March 8 (PTI) — The five-member CPI group in the Bihar Assembly today decided to abstain from voting during tomorrow’s election for the Speaker’s post.

The CPI-(M-L), having six members, remained undecided on its participation in the election.