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Jharkhand crisis : Arjun Munda to prove majority this week |
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The simmering crisis in the BJP-JDU coalition in Jharkhand came to the fore last week when four Ministers resigned from the Arjun Munda Government, reducing it to a minority. Chief Minister Arjun Munda, however, remained unfazed and said that he is confident of proving his majority in the state Assembly. Jharkhand Governor Syed Sibtey Razi on Wednesday, Sept. 6, gave the Chief Minister seven days to prove his majority on the floor of the House.
Munda, who met Razi told the Governor that he was confident of proving the majority of his Government. Citing the Supreme Court judgment in the Bommai case, he sought an opportunity to do so on the floor of the House.
On Monday, Enos Ekka, Harinarain Rai and Madhu Koda, Independent MLAs holding ministerial berths, sent in their resignations to Munda and flew to New Delhi. They reportedly met some United Progressive Alliance leaders there, including Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. It soon became clear that efforts were on to form an alternative government in Jharkhand.
Matters came to a head on Tuesday when a fourth Minister - Kamlesh Singh of the Nationalist Congress Party - also resigned.
In a House of 81 plus one nominated member, the Government enjoyed the support of 43 MLAs when it took office 18 months ago. With Inder Singh Namdhari elected Speaker, it had the support of 42 MLAs, which rose to 43 when a member was nominated. The Opposition strength then stood at 38. But now, the Government enjoys the support of only 39 MLAs.
Munda is not expected to go down without a fight, but the BJP has been weakened after the exit of Koderma MP Babulal Marandi, who openly charged the Government with taking corruption to new heights. The party fears desertions from within its ranks if the Government were to fall.
The Congress does not want to be seen as having participated in a toppling game. The party spokesperson dismissed the developments as “an internal matter of the National Democratic Alliance.” Party sources suggested that even if an alternative government were to be formed, the Congress might provide outside support only.
In a related development, three pro-UPA MLAs have moved the Supreme Court challenging the disqualification notices issued to them by Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari on Sept. 6. The Speaker has asked them to reply before Sept. 11 why they should not be disqualified as Members of the House. The trial of strength in the state Assembly is likely to take place on Sept. 14.
In separate, but identical petitions, the trio - Stephen Marandi, Kamlesh Kumar Singh and Enos Ekka - sought the apex court’s intervention to restrain the Speaker from “acting contrary to the Constitutional mandate” and altering the composition of the House by disqualifying them. They have urged the court to declare the Speaker’s notice “null and void.” The petitions were moved before a bench headed by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Justice C.K. Thakker, which decided to hear them on Monday, Sept. 11.
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