See you at Tamar Soren

Soren talks tough

Fires Ainosh and Harinarayan Rai

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Friday, December 19, 2008

The ongoing political melodrama in Jharkhand reached its crescendo when Chief Minister Shibu Soren sacked Rural Development Minister Ainosh Ekka and Urban Development Minister Harinarayan Roy from his Cabinet on Thursday. This took place immediately after the Assembly passed the supplementary Budget. With this decision Soren passed on the message to his political rivals that he too could talk and act tough.

Soren had earlier said that Ekka could be removed from the Cabinet if he did not withdraw his party candidate Raja Peter from the electoral fray of Tamar.
A formal notification removing the two ministers is likely to be issued by Friday evening after acting Governor RL Bhatia approves the recommendations.

Soren sent the recommendation to remove the two ministers to Raj Bhavan through his Principal Secretary BK Tripathi on Thursday evening. Tripathi handed over the recommendation sent in a sealed envelope to the Principal Secretary to Governor Sudhir Tripathi who has sent it to Patna through a special emissary.

Since Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi has gone on Haj, Bihar Governor RL Bhatia is also in charge of Jharkhand.

Earlier in an unexpected media briefing on the sidelines of the second day of the winter session of the State Assembly Soren announced this decision and said: "I decided to drop Ainosh Ekka and Harinarayan Roy from the Cabinet as they have been facing corruption charges and the Vigilance Department has been investigating into this"

Just after the conclusion of the session the UPA leaders held an in-camera meeting to take a final decision on the removal of both the Ministers and stressed that it was high time when Soren should show a brave face. The meeting was attended by Jharkhand UPA Steering Committee chairperson Madhu Koda besides others. Koda also supported the decision of the UPA but evaded the issue of his possible induction in the Cabinet. But well-placed sources confided Koda could be inducted in the Cabinet.

Soren also added that it was not in the interest of the State to retain both of them as their retention might stymie the investigation against them. When mediapersons popped question on whether or not the decision would weaken the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in Jharkhand; Soren said that it was the collective decision of the UPA and the fear was unwarranted.

However the decision was well anticipated as well-placed sources in the UPA had hinted drop a day before that the duo could be dropped just after the supplementary Budget. Even Soren was under pressure to talk hard on this issue after the belligerent Ekka refused to withdraw his party nominee Raja Peter from the by-election of Tamar where Soren has been contesting as an official candidate of the UPA.

The hint of the likely departure of Ekka became clearer after the absence of the Minister from the House during money bill. While reacting over the decision Ekka said: "I feel relieved after the decision was taken and want to congratulate honourable Chief Minister Shibu Soren and my friends in the UPA who scripted this decision…but I am more resolute. Let Guruji (Soren) come to Tamar and get a bitter taste of defeat. My party and candidate are there in Tamar to make him realise his potential."Hardening his stand against the UPA and Soren, Ekka termed the decision as politically motivated and said that Soren and his chosen ilk could not digest the popularity of his party (Jharkhand Party) in Jharkhand and Tamar.

"Their hard talk did not work; forked tongue could not deter me and now they have resorted to arm twisting me…let them do it I will not budge from my stand. They are taking refuge behind Vigilance cases to remove me. Let them speak honestly that they (UPA) removed me because I did not remove my candidate", Ekka said in a barbed tone.