Saturday, March 12 2005 15:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: Jharkhand Assembly Pro-tem Speaker Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu resigned from the post today (Mar 12, 2005), a day after his failure to conduct the trial of strength in the House as directed by the Supreme Court.

Balmuchu, who belongs to the Congress, yesterday refused to take up the business of motion of confidence in the Soren Government, citing uproar created by UPA (United Progressive Alliance) members, who had questioned his "competence" to conduct such a business.

Before adjourning the House he had also cited the stand taken by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on the powers of the apex court to give a directive to a Legislature and said the President should make a reference to the Supreme Court for his opinion on the issue.

Normally, the senior-most member of the House is appointed a Pro-tem Speaker after the elections to preside over oath-taking by members and the Speaker's election.

With the new Government headed by BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Arjun Munda taking over it remains to be seen whether a Pro-tem Speaker is appointed in Balmuchu's place to preside over the Speaker's election.