PHOTO: PTI

NEW LEADER: Independent MLA Madhu Koda (second from right) hands over a letter staking the UPA's claim to form a government to Jharkhand Governor Sayed Sibtey Razi at the Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on Thursday. RJD supremo Lalu Prasad and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren are also seen.

NEW DELHI: Unease and unrest among the 30 BJP legislators in Jharkhand over the hard bargaining to save the Arjun Munda Government with the help of would-be defectors from the Rashtriya Janata Daland some others forced the BJP's central leadership to direct Mr. Munda to give up the game.

Highly-placed sources in the BJP told The Hindu that president Rajnath Singh, at a meeting late Wednesdaynight, came to the conclusion that it would be counter-productive for the party hold on to power. The meeting was attended by Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani and senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu, who earlier briefed the leadership on the developments in Jharkhand on his return from Ranchi.

Earlier this month, immediately after four Ministers rebelled against Mr. Munda, the BJP leadership decided at a core committee group meeting that he should not resign and his Government should be saved. However, later, a different view was taken, given the "unease" among the party MLAs. "We are the largest party and yet we had just three Ministers in the Munda Government. All plum posts went to independents and others," a senior BJP leader said.

Admitting that some RJD and even Jharkhand Mukti Morcha legislators were "in touch with Arjun Munda," a party leader said the BJP, however, could not accept their "conditions" for support, as they were demanding specific portfolios. It was decided that it would be better for Mr. Munda to resign than save his Government now and face a similar predicament a few months later.

Apparently, Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari was "ready" to disqualify the three rebel MLAs and then conduct a trial of strength. However, after the BJP's decision that Mr. Munda should resign became known, the Speaker chose not to give his verdict on the disqualification issue.

Some party leaders pointed out that the BJP could not ignore the fact that its former MP Babulal Marandi was waiting in the wings to make the most of the disquiet among the party legislators. In the party's assessment, sooner rather than later mid-term elections would take place and it was better to prepare for that than gain temporary relief by saving the Munda Government.

Rajnath blames Congress

In a statement here, Mr. Rajnath Singh accused the Congress of indulging in its favourite game of toppling non-Congress Governments whenever it was in power at the Centre. The National Democratic Alliance (BJP 30 and Janata Dal-United 6) had the mandate after the 2005 election. "We have not resorted to any undemocratic, unconstitutional and unethical means to save our Government," he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail