Thursday, March 10 2005 12:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Altogether 34 MLAs - 33 from the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and one of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were sworn in as members of the Jharkhand Assembly by pro-tem speaker Pradip Kumar Balmuchu this morning (Mar 10, 2005) before the house was adjourned till 14:00 hrs (IST) for the lunch recess.

The lone NDA member who took oath was Inder Singh Namdhari, JD-U State president and former Speaker.

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

Meanwhile, the 41 NDA legislators from Rajasthan arrived at the Ranchi airport.

Immediately after taking oath Namdhari told the pro-tem speaker that according to the rules, Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi could not be a member of both the Rajya Sabha and the State Assembly and had to quit one.

In reply Marandi said that he was forwarding his resignation to the Rajya Sabha.