Suspended BJP MLAs seek time from Speaker

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Out of five suspended BJP MLAs against whom the cases of disqualifications have been lying with Alamgir Alam, the Speaker of Jharkhand State Assembly, Vishnu Bhaiya, Manohar Tekriwal and Ravindra Kumar Rai filed their answers on Monday. All of them have sought 60-day time to explain their position.

Deputy Chief Minister Stephen Marandi has also filed the answer. The decision on this account is likely to be taken after the session of the Assembly schedule to start from September 19.

If sources are to believed it is learnt that both Vishnu Bhaiya and Tekriwal would challenge their disqualification on the grounds that the BJP wanted their disqualification on hypothetical fear- they might cross the floor during trust vote which resulted in the seizure of their voting rights. Hence they technically remained no more BJP MLAs.

Meanwhile, Ravindra Rai dared the BJP leadership to take his head if it could do so. The constant challenge posed by these defiant party MLAs have put the BJP in political muddle. On the surface the State BJP appears unanimous for the disqualifications but the issue has created deep fissures among the party leaders. The piecemeal approach taken for their disqualification and politically a late realisation of the fact that the suspended MLAs needed to be disqualified- the answer to which has left most of the BJP stalwarts divided.

While a party section led by Arjun Munda was in favour of strong action against the five suspended MLAs owing to their proximity with Babulal Marandi- a known detractor of Munda. But move was stopped as the central leadership did not want to annoy Marandi- the central leadership still hopes for a rapprochement with Marandi.

Not hiding his disappointment over the whole issue a senior party leader hinted that a section of party leaders and the central BJP leaders too had no problem till these suspended five remained with the junior BJP (JVM). 'Actions were taken only after two of them deserted JVM', he said.

The State BJP filled the petition for disqualification of Vishnu Bhaiya and Tekriwal only after the duo deserted Marandi and sided with Shibu Soren. The party was politically constrained to file a fresh petition of disqualifications against the rest three suspended MLAs on a similar ground.

"The moment we collect proof against the rest of the three we filed another petition seeking similar action against the rest of the three namely Ravindra Rai, Kunti Singh and Pradeep Yadav", party chief whip CP Singh added. A senior party leader said the central high command was unwilling for strong actions against them till the last time. The move came as a victory for Munda who is learnt to have made it a point of his prestige but he had to drop his rigid stance to move to Supreme Court.