The Hindu : National : Options open in larger interests of the State: Kamlesh Kumar

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Thursday, Mar 31, 2005

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Options open in larger interests of the State: Kamlesh Kumar

By D.P. Sharan

RANCHI, MARCH 30. Even as he joined as Minister in the Arjun Munda Government in Jharkhand on Tuesday defying his party (Nationalist Congress Party) whip to support the UPA-led Opposition, Kamlesh Kumar Singh has kept his options open in the ``larger interests of the State.''

Mr. Singh told The Hindu today that he had neither joined the National Democratic Alliance, which has formed the Government in the State, nor did he sever his association with the NCP so far. He said that until he took the oath of the membership of the Assembly, he would keep his options open.

He said he had joined the Munda Government ``just to save the State from the possible imposition of President's rule.''

Mr. Singh said that if he had participated in the vote of confidence sought by the United Progressive Alliance-led Shibu Soren Government on March 11, a situation of tie would have emerged in the House between the NDA and the UPA.

This would have led to a political crisis resulting in the imposition of President's rule.

``Accountable to voters''

He contended that since he was accountable to his voters too, he could not compromise with the ``covert interests'' of the Congress, in particular, to vest the power in the party in power at the Centre to rule Jharkhand by proxy.

Mr. Singh said he had decades-old relation with the NCP leader, Tariq Anwar, and whatever actions Mr. Anwar wanted to take against him for defying the party whip, was acceptable to him.

But he would not allow any other UPA leader in the State to interfere with the internal matters of his party.

He said he had reasons to support a stable Government in the State as his home constituency — Hussainabad — had been deprived of power and drinking water supply for the past four years.

Ever since the emergence of Jharkhand as a State, the electricity supplied by Bihar had been disconnected and the entire area remained without power. The water supply position was also pathetic and the condition of the roads was precarious. He said he had made commitments to his voters to remove these grievances.

Denial of Ministry

Mr. Singh said he had joined the erstwhile Shibu Soren Government on condition of being given the Rural Development Ministry. But, Mr. Soren would not agree to that.

Asked he would not be disqualified under the Anti-Defection Law as he had joined the NDA against the party whip, Mr. Singh said that since he was the lone member of his party in the House and as the 91st amendment allowed merger with one-third majority of the party in the House, he could not be disqualified once he took the oath in the House.

Mr. Singh was sworn in Minister in the erstwhile Soren Government but he did not take the oath of the House and abstained during the vote of confidence sought by the UPA-led Shibu Soren Government on March 11.

Subsequently, he was made Minister in the Arjun Munda Government too.

But he did not turn up to take the oath along with five other Ministers on March 12.

However, when the Munda Cabinet was expanded, he was administered the oath of office by the Governor, Syed Sibtey Razi, on Tuesday.

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