Wednesday, March 2 2005 12:29 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi has asked the administration to provide adequate security to the newly elected independent MLAs in the State Assembly.

With both United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) staking claim to form the Government and claiming the support of independents, the Governor has ordered that the security around the MLAs, especially Hari Narain Choudhury and Enos Ekka, whose names apparently figured in the lists submitted by both the alliances, be beefed up, sources said in Ranchi.

Senior Congress leader and Union Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi yesterday (Mar 1, 2005) night alleged that Ekka had been taken away by the rival camp against the wishes of his President N E Horo of Jharkhand party, a regional outfit.

Unhappy with the Governor's decision to "interview" the 12 independents, the NDA had charged the Governor with following "delaying tactics" and were on an indefinite dharna since yesterday night.

Meanwhile, the UPA was in pains to convince Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) rebel Stephen Marandi to accept party chief and Union Coal Minister Sibu Soren as the UPA's choice as Chief Ministerial candidate.

At one point of time Marandi was fuming after Dasmunshi told the media about Soren being considered as the UPA leader. Dasmunshi was seen holding Marandi's hands and pacifying him.

Marandi, who was not in the UPA delegation that met the Governor yesterday night, reportedly said that, though he had differences with Soren, he would support the secular forces.