By IANS,
Ranchi : Discontent is brewing in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Jharkhand, with legislators of two key alliance partners complaining of being sidelined and even talking of withdrawing support.
Some legislators of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) have publically vented their anger against the Arjun Munda government.
Sita Soren, daughter-in-law of JMM chief Shibu Soren, is foremost among the disgruntled legislators. She is camping in New Delhi, and according to party sources is in touch with Congress leaders.
The JMM legislators who are silently supporting Sita Soren are Polush Surin, Simon Marandi, Champai Soren and Lobin Hembrom among others, the sources say.
Considering the discontent in the party, Shibu Soren Monday called a core committee meeting.
“It is is true that more than half a dozen legislators are opposing supporting the BJP-led government. These legislators are not happy with offers of the posts of chairman of boards and corporations,” a senior JMM leader told IANS on condition of anonymity.
“The Munda government has completed a year and these legislators still find themselves toothless in their own government. Officials do not take the legislators seriously.”
Efforts are on to pacify the dissenting legislators.
Jharkhand’s health secretary and JMM leader Hemlal Murmu said: “We will address the issue over which Sita Soren is unhappy.”
According to sources in the JMM, Sita Soren was offered the post of chairman of the Jharkhand Mines and Mineral Development Corp but he had declined it. Party sources say she wants to be made minister.
Legislators as well as a minister of AJSU are also said to be unhappy.
Jharkhand’s Science and Technology Minister and party legislator, Chandra Prakash Chaudhary, said: “No work is taking place in the state. Officers do not take our directive seriously. We will soon come with a strategy.”
“My constituency is one of the Maoist affected districts. No work is taking place despite assurances given by the chief minister,” said Kamal Kishore Bhagat, another AJSU legislator, said.
The Congress is playing its game tactfully. Its Jharkhand party in charge Shakeel Ahmad said: “First let JMM severe its links with the BJP. We do not want elections in the state.”
This is seen as an indication that the Congress could support the JMM-led government.
In the 81-member assembly, BJP, JMM and AJSU have 18, 17 and five legislators respectively.