Tuesday, March 15 2005 11:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ranchi: National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate Inder Singh Namdhari was today (Mar 15, 2005) elected Speaker of the Jharkhand Assembly.

Namdhari was elected by voice vote amidst protests by the Opposition United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

His name was proposed by Chief Minister Arjun Munda.

The newly elected Jharkhand Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari, soon after his election said that he would look into the Opposition demand for disqualification of Enos Ekka and Kamlesh Singh from membership of the house only after he had got fresh letters from their respective parties.

"Let the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) come forward with a fresh letter, I would look into it. Also I will study the anti-defection judgements of other Vidhan Sabhas and seek opinions from experts before taking any decision," Namdhari told newsmen.

He was replying to a question on Opposition demand to bring Ekka (Jharkhand Party) and Singh (NCP) under the anti-defection law for allegedly violating their party whip.

Namdhari also said that there were only 37 members on the UPA side, as Sukhram Oraon (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) and Joba Manjhi were found absent.

Kamlesh Singh continued to remain absent in the house as he was admitted to hospital once again last night (Mar 14, 2005).