Babulal not for toppling Munda govt, seeks mid-term poll

Ranchi, Aug 2 (UNI) With discontent among coalition partners in the BJP-led NDA government in Jharkhand running high, speculation is rife about a move to hammer out a change in the leaderhip even as the man on mission Babulal Marandi today ruled out toppling the 'corrupt' government.

Mr Marandi, a BJP deserter and Jharkhand Vikash Morcha president, had been mounting attacks on Chief Minister Arjun Munda in the past few weeks, trading a series of corruption charges.

He reiterated that mid-term poll was the only alternative to purge the state of all ailments.

Differences among NDA partners--JD(U) and Independent MLAs added to the worries of Mr Munda and yesterday's postponment of Cabinet meeting was seen by the NDA detractors as a desperate measure by the Chief Minister to pacify his dissatisfied allies first.

The Cabinet is scheduled to meet tomorrow.

The coming by-election to Koderma parliamentary seat will be an acid test for the Munda government and Mr Marandi, who resigned from the seat two months ago had already urged people to take the by-poll as a golden chance for them to decide their future.

The BJP central leadership was not happy to notice the absence of state HRD Minister Pradeep Yadav and Ravinder Rai, MLA in the party's recent meeting held at Koderma, where national vice-president and in-charge of Jharkhand Sumitra Mahajan was present to focus on the by-poll and membership drive. The duo's proximity to the JVM's president was not missed.

Besides, three out of the total five Independent MLAs supporting the government were creating an uncomfortable situation for Mr Munda.

Geology and Mines Minister Madhu Koda, Rural Engineering Organisation Minister Enos Ekka and Environment and Forests Minister Harinarayan Rai were recently in Delhi and reportedly met UPA leaders there.

Mr Ekka, however, said he called on Railway Minister Lalu Yadav to request for develoment of railways in his constituency.

The JD(U) was not happy with the portfolio allocation among their party ministers and made it clear that they would not meet the Chief Minister. Their demands would be intimated to party national president Sharad Yadav on August 11 in Delhi.

Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari's accusation that Home Minister Sudesh Mahto harboured criminals raised speculations about stability of the government. While Mr Singh is from JD (U), Mr Mahto is an influential member of the the Independent MLAs.

The BJP issued a show cause against state vice-president Som Marandi and vice-president of vigilance council Praveen Singh for their recent ati-party comments in public.

He said a mid-term poll was the only way out to help the state wriggle out of the crisis.

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