New Delhi, August 26
Crisis over Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda in the wake of an open rebellion by seven ministers of his Council of Ministers ended today with five “disgruntled” ministers agreeing to work under his leadership after senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh brokered a deal.
The compromise was hammered out at a marathon three-hour meeting held between the Chief Minister and the five ministers, who had won as independents and helped Mr Munda form a coalition government, at Mr Rajnath Singh’s residence.
After the meeting, Mr Rajnath Singh told newspersons in the presence of Mr Munda and the ministers that whatever “misunderstanding” was there between them, had been removed and “they are all fully satisfied”.
A prominent dissident among the five ministers, Sudesh Mahato, who is holding Home portfolio, said: “There is no dispute now over the leadership issue as most of the differences have been resolved. The demand for change of leadership does not exist anymore.”
Mr Munda said such differences did crop up in a “big family”. “But we have decided
to work together for the development of Jharkhand.”
Mr Mahato and Mr Madhu Kora, another dissident minister, said it had been decided that all issues would be discussed at the level of coordination committee under a common minimum programme.
Before their talks with Mr Rajnath Singh over lunch, the dissident ministers had a meeting with the JD(U) Parliamentary Board Chairman Sharad Yadav to discuss the issue.
Mr Munda heads a coalition government of NDA partners — the BJP and the JD(U) — which hinges on the support of the five independent ministers.
Today’s meetings come on the heels of the BJP deciding to form two coordination committees, both at the party and NDA level. One of them would include the dissident ministers who had attacked the working style of the Chief Minister.
The compromise came after days of hectic political activity during which the disgruntled independent ministers discussed their grievances with Central leaders of BJP and
JD(U).
