By IANS,
Ranchi : Political parties in Jharkhand have welcomed the imposition of president’s rule in the state.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which was in the opposition in the last government, however expressed unhappiness over keeping the state assembly under suspended animation.
“President’s rule should have been imposed earlier. The central government is directly or indirectly promoting horse trading by keeping the state assembly under suspended animation,” former chief minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arjun Munda told IANS.
“The state assembly should be dissolved to prevent horse trading and fresh elections should be conducted to get people’s verdict,” he said.
The local unit of the Congress, a key constituent of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the state, also welcomed the central government’s decision and blamed former chief minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) president Shibu Soren for the present situation.
“The centre had no option but to impose president’s rule. It was the adamant attitude of Shibu Soren which pushed the state to the present situation. The political crisis was created by Soren,” said Alok Dubey, spokesperson of the Congress’s state unit.
Blaming Soren squarely for the present situation, former deputy chief minister and independent legislator Stephen Marandi said: “Soren’s blind love for family and lack of political vision has pushed the state back many years. Soren created the political crisis after losing the by-election”.
Asked about the decision to keep the state assembly under suspended animation, he noted that UPA still enjoys the majority.
“We have to choose a leader by consensus. The day we select a consensus leader, we may stake claim to form an alternate government,” Marandi said.
Meanwhile JMM has denied allegations that it was responsible for president’s rule. “As directed by the central leaders, we chose our party leader. The other partners of UPA failed to put their seal on the name. Shibu Soren cannot be blamed for the present crisis,” said Supriyo Bhattacharya, general secretary of the JMM.
The central government Monday recommended imposition of president’s rule in Jharkhand, keeping the 81-member state assembly under suspended animation.
The decision, taken at a brief unscheduled meeting of the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, followed the receipt of a letter from state Governor Syed Sibte Razi late Sunday, saying that the political instability in the state since the resignation of Shibu Soren as chief minister Jan 12 had led to uncertainty.