Before vote, Speaker clash

Asked if Namdhari8217;s election as Speaker would not reduce the NDA8217;s strength in the Assembly, Munda said: 8216;8216;You need not worry about that.8217;8217;

Trouble has already broken out within the NDA over allocation of portfolios. Among five Independents, Sudesh Mahato and Madhu Koda who had brought Enos Ekka, C.P. Choudhury and Harinarayan Rai into the NDA8217;s fold, were reportedly engaged in a hard bargain for plum portfolios after Munda declined to meet Mahato8217;s demand for deputy CM8217;s post.

There was peace in the Opposition, meanwhile, as Stephen Marandi returned to fold as convenor of the 10-member UPA coordination committee in Jharkhand. JMM chief Shibu Soren said the combine would announce the name of the Opposition leader in the Assembly later. While two each from the JMM, Congress and RJD were selected as members of the committee, three members 8212; Bandhu Tirkey, Joba Manjhi and Nazam Ansari 8212; represent the UGDP.