By IANS
Ranchi : Worried over Jharkhand’s worsening law and order situation, the dismal power scenario and poor roads, the state Congress has served an ultimatum to Chief Minister Madhu Koda to either perform or perish.
“We cannot bear the shortcomings of the Madhu Koda government. The chief minister should either perform or make way for others,” state Congress president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu told reporters Thursday.
Even Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a key partner of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the state, is unhappy.
“Ministers and bureaucrats are hampering development work in the state,” said state UPA convener and JMM chief Shibu Soren.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi too seems unhappy with the performance of the Koda government. Early this week, Koda was in New Delhi and made desperate attempts to meet her, but could not.
He wanted to invite Gandhi on the seventh establishment day of the state Nov 15. A few days earlier, he committed a gaffe at a function to mark the 23rd death anniversary of late prime minister Indira Gandhi. Instead of paying tribute to the former prime minister, Koda paid tribute to her daughter-in-law and the UPA chairperson.
“Sonia Gandhi sustained bullets in her body. She sacrificed her life for the country. We should follow in the footsteps of late Sonia Gandhi,” Koda had said at the function organised by the Congress.
In the last 15 days, Maoists have killed 18 people in the state. Ashish Dey, the co-owner of Sreeleathers, a leading shoe manufacturing company, was gunned down in Jamshedpur reportedly by extortionists.
“Koda is an independent legislator but we are accountable to the people. The law and order situation has worsened during the tenure of the Koda government and Congress will face the ire of the people during elections,” said a senior Congress leader.