Thursday, March 10 2005 15:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Three MLAs supporting the Shibu Soren United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government did not turn up for taking the oath in the Jharkhand Assembly today (Mar 10, 2005), where 77 legislators - 36 of the UPA and 41 of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were sworn in as members of the 81-member house by pro-tem Speaker Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu.

The three legislators supporting the UPA who did not turn up were Kamlesh Singh of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Aparna Sengupta and Bhanupratap Sahi, both of the Forward Bloc.

In the NDA camp, all 41 members, including five Independents Sudesh Mahato, Chandraprakash Choudhury, Enos Ekka, Madhu Kora and Hari Narain Rai took the oath.

The pro-tem Speaker adjourned the house till tomorrow (Mar 11, 2005) when the vote of confidence will take place, pre-poned by four days by the Supreme Court.

Security was tight outside the Assembly premises, while inside proceedings were being recorded on video.

Earlier, 37 NDA legislators, including five Independents arrived in Ranchi from Rajasthan where they had been staying since March 4. They were accompanied by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Rajnath Singh and Anant Kumar.