BJP-JMM tussle to form Govt. in Jharkhand

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, AUG. 20. Government formation in the new Jharkhand State is now a touch and go affair, thanks to the drama being unfolded by the BJP and the JMM, both of which have drawn the battle lines, in the race for the top job.

The power struggle has intensified with the marriage of convenience between the BJP and the JMM going on the rocks and the two wooing new bedfellows to emerge as the major partner in the new dispensation to govern the tribal heartland.

The BJP has set at rest all speculation about a possible alliance with the JMM and allowing the latter to head the maiden government as and when the new State comes into being, probably on November 15, so as to coincide with the Birsa Munda Jayanthi. The proposed date is the idea of the BJP, which heads the NDA Government at the Centre, and hence its success in finding the numbers is crucial for formation of the Government on the said date.

Senior leaders of the BJP, including its outgoing president, Mr. Kushabhau Thakre, held a meeting of the 32-strong legislature group to assure that the party had not forsaken its claim and that only a tribal leader of the party would head new Government.

The BJP's decision does not completely solve its problem, internal or external. Rather it makes its task of installing an NDA Government more arduous. It has to choose between the Union Minister, Mr. Babulal Marandi, and the senior MP, Mr. Karia Munda.

Moreover, it would have to placate the Samata Party, which favoured the JMM leader, Mr. Shibu Soren, heading the new Government, in accordance with the earlier arrangement to make a bid to set up an NDA Government in Bihar. Without the JMM's support the NDA, in a hopeless position, would not have succeeded in its design to stake claim and influence the Governor to extend invitation to it to form the government, which, nevertheless, turned out to be short lived.

The BJP, along with the Samata Party (5) and JD-U (3), together has 40 members on its side, one short of the majority in the 81- member Assembly. Hence, it needs one more if its desire is to fructify.

But the effective strength during a confidence motion will be 82, taking the nominated member into account. The BJP could count on the nominated member as it was the NDA Government led by Mr. Nitish Kumar, who had nominated him. Still the BJP will flounder by one vote.

Ditched by the BJP, the JMM is on the look out for greener pastures by trying to forge a front with the RJD-Congress(I)-MCC- UGDP front. The RJD-led combine was indeed hoping for a split between the BJP and the JMM for it to make a move to keep the ``communal'' forces at bay.

The JMM is 12 strong, and, along with the Congress(I) (11), the RJD (9), UGDP (2), and the MCC (1), and two Independents who support the RJD, accounts for 37, five short of the magic figure. The JMM could bridge the gap if the CPI (3) and the CPI-ML (1), decide to fall in line. That would put it abreast with the BJP- led combine in what promises to be a photo-finish race.

The JMM legislature party leader, Mr. Stephen Marandi, has claimed that his party was in touch with the CPI and the CPI-ML and that the two independents supporting the RJD would back them and not change their loyalties with a change in political equation emanating from the division of the State.

The JMM might not find much opposition from the RJD despite the former playing spoil sport in refusing to support the latter in Ministry formation in Bihar and trying to help its adversary, the NDA. The RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, has been harping that only a tribal leader should become the Chief Minister of Jharkhand state.

The JMM for the first time claimed that its leader, Mr. Shibu Soren, has had a talk with Mr. Yadav while his son, Mr. Durga Soren, is said to have called on the AICC(I) President, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. The Congress(I) also has problems, as some of its leaders, including the Tribal Welfare Minister, Mr. Bagun Sumbrui, aspire for the top job. Keeping that in mind, the JMM is offering the post of Deputy Chief Minister to the Congress(I).

The JMM, along with the RJD-Congress(I), is trying to woo the Samata Party and the JD(U) to help Mr. Soren brace the tape and pip the BJP to the post. On the other hand, the BJP's efforts are to win over the Independents and the UGDP.

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Section  : National
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