RANCHI, June 9: The Congress and the JMM today appeared to take a ‘final’ course of action after dilly dallying over the formation of an alternative Government ever since President’s rule was imposed following the fall of the BJP-led government in Jharkhand on January 8.
“We are watching the situation and talks are going on within the party. I am in Delhi now,” Jharkhand PCC President Sukhdeo Bhagat said over phone.
“You may call it second level,” he said when asked at what level the party was discussing Jharkhand’s current political situation.
Asked about the two JMM MLAs issuing resignation threats from house membership if the Congress failed to take a decision on Government formation before June 16, Bhagat said an alliance was not stitched on the basis of any condition, rather it was formed in the interest of the state.
JMM MLAs Vishnu Prasad Bhaiya and Paulus Surin on Friday issued threats of resigning from the House, wondering what the necessity was for an elected legislature when there was no elected Government.
Agreeing to Bhagat’s contention that the two MLAs’ warnings were issued in their individual capacity and not that of the party, JMM general secretary Suprio Bhattacharya, however, defended his MLAs, saying it resulted out of ‘frustration’.
On June 16, the JMM has convened a meeting and the outcome of the party’s decision on the prevailing political situation would be last and final, the JMM leader, authorised to speak on behalf of the party, said.
Asked if he was optimistic about a positive decision by the Congress during an ongoing meeting within the party, he said, “We can’t dictate any political parties (as to) what they should do or decide.”
Lending unconditional support to JMM and Congress if they joined hands for Government formation, senior RJD leader and MLA Janardhan Paswan said that the Congress must come forward to give a new alternative to the people who gave mandate for five years and “there are 18 more months for the next election”.
“Whatever objections or bottlenecks the Congress may have, it can keep them out while finding an alternative,” Paswan said, indicating that the Congress was reportedly averse to talking to any legislator facing corruption charges.
The Central rule was imposed on January 18 following JMM’s withdrawal of support to the Arjun Munda government on January 8.
It took ten days for the imposition of President’s rule and putting the 82-member House under suspended animation as both the Congress and the JMM failed to come together on certain unannounced issues.
The BJP, JDU, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) and AJSU Party have been demanding dissolution of the House to seek a new mandate. (PTI)
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