M A I N   N E W S

Jharkhand Crisis
Munda quits, wants Assembly dissolved

Ranchi, January 8
Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda today resigned and recommended the dissolution of the 82-member Assembly, leaving the situation wide open for the Governor to decide the future course of action. Earlier in the day, coalition partner JMM, in a letter to Governor Syed Ahmed, formally withdrew its support to the 28-month-old government pushing it into a minority.

Congress watchful New Delhi: Congress appears to be in no hurry to put together a new government in Jharkhand after the fall of Munda-led BJP ministry and may prefer a brief spell of President’s rule in the state. The JMM is learnt to have approached some Congress leaders to explore the formation of a new government in the state but the latter is learnt to be in favour of being cautious. Congress’ caution stems from the fact that it had burnt its fingers by supporting independent Madhu Koda-led government in the past after facing public criticism for the irregularities in the Koda administration PTI

“I have submitted the Cabinet’s decision recommending the Governor to dissolve the House along with my resignation,” Munda told mediapersons here after handing over the letter to Ahmed.

His Cabinet colleagues Gopal Krishna Patar of the JD (U), Chandraprakash Choudhary of the AJSU and several BJP MLAs were present when Munda submitted the letter at Raj Bhavan.

The Governor, he said, would decide on the recommendation for the dissolution of the House. “I have run the government with stability for the last two years. Dissolution of the House and seeking a fresh mandate is the only alternative left,” he said.

“The decision on recommending the dissolution of the House was taken at a Cabinet meeting held this morning to prevent any “horse trading”, Munda said.

“Seven ministers (of the coalition government) were present in the Cabinet meeting and it was decided to recommend the dissolution of the state Assembly,” he said.

No JMM member was present at the meeting.

The decision, he said, was taken as no national party had openly come forward to provide an alternative government in the wake of the JMM’s announcement to pull out of the government.

Jharkhand has witnessed fast-paced political developments after the BJP rejected all demands of the JMM, including handing over of power as per an “accord” on rotational leadership of the coalition.

JMM leader and Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who submitted the letter to the Governor withdrawing support to the Munda government, said the Cabinet recommendation on the dissolution of the House “did not stand” as the party had announced its decision to pull out yesterday itself.

The JMM, he said, had faxed a letter to Raj Bhavan informing the Governor of its decision even before the Cabinet met this morning.

“We have submitted the letter to the Governor and informed him that JMM’s withdrawal of support has reduced the government to a minority,” Soren said after submitting the letter.

He was accompanied by his father JMM supremo Shibu Soren and other party leaders to Raj Bhavan.