Jharkhand: BJP-led govt in minority as JMM withdraws support

Ranchi, Jan 7: The

-led government in

was left in a minority after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) today withdrew support as the ruling party did not agree to its main ally's demand of a leadership change.

Claiming that BJP had promised to share power with them for 28 months each, JMM leaders asserted that now it was their turn to rule but BJP denied having struck any such deal. Though JMM insisted that Chief Minister Arjun Munda should resign from his post immediately, he refused to step down. JMM's suggestion of replacing Munda with any one else from the BJP was also rejected by the ruling party.

On his part, Munda urged JMM not to destabilise the state government. "Jharkhand's image in the public eye has been very bad, and I have tried to improve it during the last two years and I am getting good results. I would like it to be carried forward in the interest of the state's progress," he said. Munda stressed that "all political parties" should ensure this.

Nevertheless, JMM pressed for the chief minister's post. Today, members of the party's central committee met here and announced that they are pulling out from the government. Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren later told news persons that JMM supremo Shibu Soren will take the final decision.

"We will now decide on our strategy further. Since the BJP leads the government in the state, they must also decide what they want to do in this case," Hemant Soren said.

BJP has 18 legislators in the 81-member state Assembly. An equal number of MLAs belong to its JMM. However, reports say six of them are not averse to continuing support to the coalition government that is incidentally propped up by two Janata Dal (United) legislators and six MLAs of the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) too.

OneIndia News