Patna, Feb 21: Samata Party President George Fernandes today came out in support of Jharkhand Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, who is facing a virtual revolt by Samata and JD(U) ministers seeking his ouster, saying the "rebellion" did not have the party's sanction. "Instead of demanding the ouster of Marandi, the ministers should have resigned from the cabinet if they did not have faith in leadership of the chief minister," Fernandes said while reacting to the demands made by five Samata and JD (U) ministers. "Such behaviour is unwarranted in a coalition government," defence minister Fernandes told reporters here.
Coalition politics warrants adherence to certain norms and all ministers, irrespective of their party affiliations, should follow them, he said.

In a joint statement last night, revenue minister Madhu Singh, public health engineering minister Jaleswar Mahato, excise minister Ramesh Singh Munda, urban development minister Baccha Singh (all Samata) and energy minister Lalchand Mahato (JD-U) demanded ouster of Marandi before the commencement of assembly session on February 28. Bureau Report