By IANS,
Ranchi : The main opposition party in Jharkhand BJP has ruled out forming an alternative government with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) ousting the present Madhu Koda administration.
With JMM holding a crucial meeting of the party here Sunday to decide the fate of the Koda government, there were speculations that JMM chief Shibu Soren was in touch with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders to form an alternative government.
But former Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Arjun Munda has scotched the
rumours asserting that his party would not form any government allying with JMM. “There is no plan to form an alternative government with JMM. BJP will prefer to face elections rather than form a government with JMM,” Munda told IANS.
Munda’s assertion came even as there were reports here that JMM and senior central leader of BJP are in touch over forming an alternative government in the state. Before the July 22 parliament trust vote, there were reports that BJP had offered the Chief Minister’s post to JMM chief Shibu Soren.
The political crisis began in Jharkhand Tuesday when Soren staked claim to the chief minister’s post but incumbent Madhu Koda refused to resign.
Soren’s move has been supported by the Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). Soren secured backing of the Congress and RJD in lieu of supporting the trust vote secured by the Manmohan Singh government July 22.
In the 82-member assembly, United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has the support of 42 legislators. The UPA legislators include 17 of JMM, nine of Congress and seven of RJD. The remaining belong to smaller parties or are independent legislators.
If JMM withdraws support, then the Koda government will be reduced to a minority.