Central leadership puts on hold Govt formation exercise

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Friday, June 26, 2009

The UPA MLAs returned home with long faces. They were anxious to form a Government in Jharkhand, but their dream was rudely smashed by the central leadership of the Congress who put a temporary halt over any such move.

Some of them—the JMM legislators—moved to Ajmer Sarif to seek the blessing of the divine for the prosperity of the State as they claimed. The UPA leaders added their voice together in their meeting with the State Congress in-charge K Keshav Rao to allow formation of a popular Government in Jharkhand.

After hearing their pleas patiently for about half an hour on Monday, Rao flew to Brazil without making any promise. The Congress high command holds a different mood altogether. But, Rao prudently did not black out their dream to form a Government, sources said.

On their arrival here they did not mix with the media instantly nor did the photojournalists, often looking for a good pose, requested them to flash victory signs, as usual. But anxiety on their face read like a political script of the coming days of Jharkhand politics.

Claiming the chances to form Government was bright and they have done the initial homework in their meeting with the Congress leaders these MLAs believed the matter will be resolved in the coming 10 days. If Stephen Marandi claims the Government will be formed by June 28-29, his one time Cabinet colleague Sudhir Mahto adds no colour to this dream. “The Congress seems to be evasive. But we will sit again to finally decide this matter,” Mahto said while exhaustion reeked from the air around him.

On their homecoming the State BJP added its reaction with a pinch of salt. “Laut ke buddhu ghar ko aye,” (fool have returned home) the State BJP president Raghuwar Das quipped. “Instead of cringing before the UPA leaders they should sit together for introspection for the mess they have done with Jharkhand,” Das said.

Unmindful of what BJP says; Niel Tirkey the Congress MLA and chief points man of the party state president Pradeep Balmuchu was busy collecting signatures of the UPA MLAs that will be presented to the Congress high command to claim the majority was on their side.

“So far 32 MLAs have signed for their support. From the side of the state RJD barring Annapurna Devi and Girinath Singh the remaining five MLAs too have added their support,” Tirkey said.

According to Tirkey, the State Congress has been cautiously treading in proverbial way. “Doodh Ka jala chhach bhi fook fook kar pita hai,” (once bitten twice shy). Even independent MLAs have extended their support without any pre-condition. Everybody is experimenting in Jharkhand. Let us do one more for betterment of the State,” Tirkey explained the realpolitik behind the whole exercise.

In New Delhi Balmuchu was reported to be busy in lobbying in the power corridor to support his claim for the chief ministership. On Monday night he met the senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member from Jharkhand RK Anand, the sources in the Congress said. “If there is a remote chance of the formation of government, he (Anand) could be instrumental in securing support of the JMM MLAs in the favour of Balmuchu.

In Jharkhand Tirkey has been carrying the flag of Balmuchu claiming the party should not change its policy of a tribal as the Chief Minister of Jharkhand.Within the Congress too many conflicting voices damned this exercise.