Murmu appointed chairman of Jharkhand Front

Jamshedpur, Oct 1 (UNI) A vertical split took place in Jharkhand Front today after appointment of Jharkhand Disom Party(JDP)founder Salkhan Murmu as chairman of the Front.

Earlier in August this year, both the Horo and the Naren factions of Jharkhand Party and Surya Singh Besra-led Jharkhand People's Party formed the Jharkhand Front and Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (Democratic)also joined hands with it on the eve of August 29 Jamshedpur Loksabha byelection.

However, later Jharkhand Party (Naren) pulled out from the Front, and along with the JDP and the Samajwadi Janata Party (SJP), formed a parallel Jharkhand Front.

Mr Murmu,a former BJP MP from Orissa's Mayurbanj constituency, floated JDP and then joined the Bahujan Samaj Party to contest the byelection but after he lost has deposit and differences with the BSP top leaders, he left the party and revived the JDP.

Mr Murmu told newspersons here today that the Front would fight for the implementation of eleven-point charter of demands, which included immediate holding of panchayat election under the PESA Act and framing policies on the issues like domicile and reservation.

He stressed the need for a political alternative in Jharkhand as both the NDA and the UPA had failed to fullfil the expectations of the people after the formation of the new state in 2000.

Mr Murmu said a viable third front was the only alternative in Jharkhand.

He also advocated for a fresh mandate after dimissing the ''anti-people'' Madhu Koda-led UPA government in the state.

JP (N)general secretary Shailendra Maithy and SJP leader B K Mishra said the Front would chalkout its future course of action under the leadership of Mr Murmu.

UNI