Coalition drama to unfold as Munda returns

VIJAY DEO JHA

RANCHI

Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda is learnt to have told his close political associates in clear terms that he would give coalition arrangements with the JMM a last chance to survive, but not at the cost of the whimsical terms and condition of ally.    

“If the JMM has decided to preside over the liquidation of coalition government then there is no two ways about it. The JMM is orchestrating 28-28 months power sharing pact between two parties during government formation exercise in 2010 that pact which never took place. The BJP may try to be logical with the JMM but not beyond a certain point. Our leader (Munda) has made it plain,” a top BJP leader said.

Important development on political front on Thursday stoked fire of speculation of crisis on the coalition front rolling fast.

Munda who flew to Delhi to attend National Development Council meeting is believed to have cut short his visit. He is likely to return Ranchi on Friday against scheduled arrival on Saturday. Top BJP sources confided Munda had meeting with central party bosses in Delhi. Top BJP leaders were of the view that continuing with a pretentious political partner for a long would cost the BJP dearly in the coming days. It came with a subtle hint, the BJP may withdraw. 

The JMM chief Shibu Soren summoned an unscheduled meeting of senior party leaders on Thursday evening.

Munda made a renewed attempt to save the Jharkhand alliance and formally suggested a meeting of State Coordination Committee (SCC) on Saturday to discuss differences among alliance partners on polity and political level. Soren, the chairman of SCC, has already declined he is keen for a meeting. Reliable sources in the JMM said the party meeting gave its seal of approval on Soren’s stance over SCC.

SCC meeting, BJP sources said, was the last bid of Munda to stop unnecessary political babble. Meanwhile, the Raj Bhavan is learnt to have invited Munda for over a cup of tea. “We can’t explain reason and occasion of meeting over a cup of tea. We can’t draw any political inference,” Raj Bhavan sources said.

A top aide of Munda unequivocally told The Pioneer the BJP will rather pull out from the government than accepting swap of CM post to the JMM. The aide dropped enough sense to understand the BJP may suffocate Soren and his party on critical issues specifically on Domicile Policy for Jharkhand that the JMM has been insisting to keep year 1932 as cut of date for its implementation.

“Soren is authorized to call SCC meeting if he wishes to short out issues. And if he does not that means he has decided to withdraw. We believe that the JMM may use contentious Domicile Policy as pretext to withdraw. We may withdraw well before they do. But that won’t be an easy game for the JMM and the Congress as well,” aid said.    

Munda after his return may prod and announce a radical amendment to keep November 15, 2000 as cut of date within Domicile Policy on the line of Uttarakhand state that may consolidate a large urban chunk in the BJP fold. The BJP insiders feel the Congress playing behind the curtain with a promise of critical prod to help the JMM to form government a fresh. 

In that case it will be tough for the Congress to take a stand on ‘cut of date’ because it will affect the party both ways. Munda has told he will not buzz beyond a point.