BJP withdraws support to Shibu Govt; Cong may prop it up

Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Raghuvar Das handed over the letter withdrawing support to the Soren government to Governor M O H Farooq.

“I have handed over the letter,which contains the signature of all 18 BJP MLAs,withdrawing support,” Das told reporters at the Raj Bhavan.

The Governor said he will “study it.”

Frustrated over JMM backtracking on its power-sharing agreement in Jharkhand,the BJP had decided on Sunday to withdraw support after a defiant Soren asserted that he would continue as the chief minister and was in touch with Congress.

The BJP parliamentary board had on April 28 decided to withdraw support to the JMM government after Soren voted against the party-sponsored cut motion against the UPA Government in Lok Sabha a day earlier.

However,the decision was put on hold when JMM Legislature party leader and Soren’s son Hemant wrote a letter to BJP chief Nitin Gadkari pledging support to a BJP-led government.

But,the JMM backtracked and demanded rotational power sharing with each party leading the government for 28 months.

This was agreed to by BJP on the understanding that Soren will quit as Chief Minister by May 25 after which Munda will head the new coalition government.

As the deadline for his stepping down approached,Soren made it clear on Friday that there was not going to quit.

“The question of a change of government comes if there is no development. But now development is going on,” he had told reporters.

The Chief Minister had on Saturday went a step further saying he was weighing all options,including cutting a deal with the Congress to continue in power.

The Soren government now has 27 MLAs,including 18 of its own,five of the AJSU,two of JD(U) and two others in support in the 81-member House.

Das also claimed the JDU,which has two MLAs,supported BJP’s decision to withdraw support as it was a part of the NDA.

The BJP,he said,took the extreme step because of the alliance partner JMM’s varying statements.

Asked whether the BJP would prefer President’s Rule,Das said it depended upon Raj Bhavan.

“I don’t deny any possibility,but we would like a strong and stable government,” he said.

BJP’s National General Secretary,Arjun Munda,who was present at Raj Bhavan,refused to comment when asked why his deal with Soren failed.

To a question,he said,”The Congress is creating a vicious political atmosphere in the state … the Raj Bhavan should keep democratic values in mind before taking any step.”

Three ministers from the BJP,Baijnath Ram,Barkuanr Gagrai and Nilkant Singh Munda were also present when Das handed over the letter to the governor.

Chronology of events leading to BJP’s withdrawal of support to Shibu Soren government for a second time in less than a month:

Apr 27: Shibu Soren votes on cut motion in support of the UPA in Parliament.

Apr 28: BJP decides to withdraw support to the Soren government.

Apr 28: JMM apologises for voting for UPA and offers chief minister’s post to BJP.

Apr 29: BJP puts on hold its decision to pull out.

Apr 30: Soren ready to resign.

May 8: Deal struck in Delhi. BJP says it will head the government for remaining term; Soren denies deal and insists on sharing power on rotational basis.

May 16: BJP entrusts former chief minister Arjun Munda to explore possibility to form government with JMM.

May 18: Second deal struck between BJP/JMM; Arjun Munda and Shibu Soren jointly announce at a press conference that both parties will share power for 28 months each with the BJP taking over the reins first.

May 19/23: Soren rejects the deal; says no written agreement on power-sharing and will continue as chief minister and government will complete full term.

May 23: BJP decides to withdraw support.

May 24: BJP withdraws support.

‘Congress to look into govt formation if proposal comes’

Congress today said it would look into the proposal for government formation if the JMM and other secular parties came up with the issue,following the BJP’s withdrawal of support to the Shibu Soren government in Jharkhand.

“If secular parties,including the JMM,send any proposal for formation of a secular dispensation,the party will look into it and place it before the central leadership,” JPCC spokesman Radhakrishna Kishore said.

Blaming the BJP for instability in the state,he said,the Congress neither preferred President’s Rule nor mid-term polls,but would like Jharkhand to be governed by secular forces.

“Only the BJP is responsible for the collapse of its five month-old alliance. It withdrew support when it did not get the CM’s post and not in the interest of the state. This is evidence of BJP being power hungry,” Kishore said.

Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Raghuvar Das today handed over the letter withdrawing support to the Soren Government to Governor M O H Farooq.