Two suspended BJP MLAs likely to quit

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Thursday, September 11, 2008

Two out of the five suspended BJP MLAs of Jharkhand facing cases of disqualification under 10th Schedule of the Constitution are likely to resign from the State Assembly before the pronouncement of judgment by Speaker Alamgir Alam.

The suspended BJP MLAs - Godda MLA Pradeep Yadav and Dhanvar MLA Ravindra Kumar Rai in defiance to the party line joined hand with the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) led by Babulal Marandi are mulling over the option of resigning.

Apparently, the move might not help them directly but it can save them from the ignominy of being called disqualified. They might fight by-election or could be fielded in Lok Sabha poll as JVM candidate from their respective constituencies, sources close to them said.

The five suspended BJP MLAs are closely inching to some final decision on their disqualification as the double Bench of Jharkhand High Court wanted to know the office of the Speaker, by September 16 when it would finally dispose of these cases.

Well-placed sources in JVM confided that the resignation could probably be tendered only after one of the MLAs of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha vacates their seat for Shibu Soren. But before taking the decision the party would study both the legal and political aspects as it did not want to give JMM a free ground.

Godda is still considered to be a strong JMM bastion despite the fact that last time BJP candidate Pradeep Yadav had defeated JMM candidate Prashant Kumar by a whopping margin. In case Yadav resigns before hand, the JMM chief Soren can easily manage a victory from there, sources said.

However, both Yadav and Rai termed it as speculation and said that they would fight the case on both political and legal front. The way the State BJP is striving for their disqualifications with enough proofs, these two MLAs are learnt to be left with no option but to show a brave face.

"We do not want to give BJP a chance to call them disqualified and deserters. They would resign if the circumstances warrant but in every case they would be a sort of political martyr", said a senior JVM leader.

Yet the JVM is clueless about the mind of Kunti Devi, another suspended BJP MLA who has sided with it. But their plan to gain the status of political martyrdom and brave anti-BJP face will spoil if the Speaker gives an early decision on their disqualification before any JMM MLA vacates his seat for Soren. But there are several ifs and buts that will shape their strategy, said a top JVM leader.