FB withdraws support to Koda-led UPA government in Jharkhand

Ranchi, Feb 9 (UNI) With the induction of controversial Forward Bloc Legislator Bhanu Pratap Shahi into the Madhu Koda-led UPA goverment, the party late last night withdrew support, bringing the ruling coalition to 41 in the 82-member House in Jharkhand.

With the withdrawal of support, the ruling UPA was reduced to 41 comprising JMM (17), Cong (9), including the Speaker, RJD (7), UGDP (2), NCP (1) and Independent (5). The NDA stood at 38 with BJP-30, JD(U)-6, AJSU-1 and one nominated member.

If the FB-2, CPI(ML)-1 come in the fold of the Opposition, the tally goes to 41. The CPI(ML), since the installation of the Koda government, has been maintaining that it was not part of the UPA in the state.

The FB with two Legislators, including Mr Shahi, who was suspended by the party, had decided to extend only outside support to the Madhu Koda governmnt in September last.

However, after nearly five-month-old drama triggered by a legal tangle in which the suspended MLA was involved, last night he was inducted into the Koda-government that got the potential to snowball into a major political crisis in Jharkhand.

No sooner had the FB decision come to light than the Opposition NDA woke out of its nearly half-year slumber to cash in on the opportunity demanding fresh elections in the state.

Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda (BJP), also the Leader of Opposition, said the Koda government was reduced to a minority after the FB withdrew its support.

Mr Munda said he had already started consulting party leadership about the new development, adding an emergency meeting would be called to discuss the matter.

He said with uncertainty continuing to plague the ruling coalition as well as well the state politics, there was no alternative to fresh polls in the state.

The FB maintained that Mr Shahi was only suspended not expelled and hence he was still bound by the party whip in terms of not taking active part in the UPA government.

Yesterday, hours within Health Minister Lal Hemendra Dehati resigned from the Koda government, his son Bhanu Pratap Shahi, earlier denied oath of office twice, was finally inducted into the Cabinet.

The controversial Forward Bloc Legislator from Bhawnathpur in Garwah district on two occasions earlier was not allowed by the Governor to take oath as he was facing arrest warrant in an SC/ST atrocity act.

As Mr Shahi was put behind bars, his father, not even an MLA, was made Health Minister in the Koda government.

UNI