Saturday, March 12 2005 13:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Arjun Munda who was last night (Mar 11, 2005) appointed Chief Minister of Jharkhand by Governor Syed Sibte Razi said that he would take oath today (Mar 12, 2005) at 15:00 hrs (IST) at the Morabadi grounds in Ranchi.

An National Democratic Alliance (NDA) legislature party meeting to decide the Council of Ministers would meet at 10:00 hrs (IST) in the morning, Munda told newsmen after meeting the Governor.

He said that his Ministry would take the vote of confidence by March 21.

Arjun Munda, leader of NDA legislature party in Jharkhand will be sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time today following the dramatic resignation last night of Shibu Soren, who was heading the united Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government since March 2.

Soren, who was to take a vote of confidence in the Assembly yesterday in keeping with an order of the Supreme Court, did not do so as the UPA MLAs repeatedly stalled the proceedings of the house challenging pro-tem speaker Pradip Balmuchu's power to preside over the floor test.

Governor Syed Sibtey Razi summoned Soren to the Raj Bhavan last evening and late in the night invited Munda to form the Government.

The NDA had been claiming that Soren's swearing-in was undemocratic, as he did not have the required number of 41 MLAs. Soren himself had been circumspect about the exact number of MLAs in his alliance, claiming they numbered 41 and again at times putting the figure at 42.

On the other hand, the NDA had paraded all its 41 MLAs, including five Independents, both before the Governor and President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Munda, a graduate in social science, entered active politics in 1980 taking up the cause of formation of Jharkhand and the development of tribals, dalits and backward classes.

The MLA from Kharsawan was the second Chief Minister of the State after Babulal Marandi, in whose Cabinet he was the welfare Minister.

Said to be a strong believer in the values of democracy and human dignity, he is associated with a number of humanitarian organisations.

Five Independent MLAs supporting the NDA in Jharkhand will take oath along with Chief Minister designate Arjun Munda today, according to BJP National General Secretary Raj Nath Singh.

The five MLAs are Sudesh Mahato, Chandra Prakash Chaudhary, Enos Ekka, Madhu Kora and Harinarain Rai, Singh told newsmen in Ranchi.