Shibu Soren

Crowns Soren as CM, for saving its PM

Prashun Bhaumik |

Shibu Soren

By Our Bureau

Exactly a month after promising Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren the chief ministership of Jharkhand in lieu of the support of four members of Parliament belonging to his party to save the central government during the vote of confidence in Parliament, the Congress asked chief minister Madhu Koda to step down and make way for the coronation of Guruji, as Mr Soren is popularly addressed by his supporters.

Emerging from a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, an angry Koda announced: “I will take a decision after talking to my ministers, who won the elections as Independents, in Ranchi. It is not a personal issue that I alone can take a decision. All the Independent MLAs will be taken into confidence before a final decision is taken.”

Koda wanted to make one last attempt to save his chair by rallying together the Independents, whose support would be crucial for any party or group of parties that sought to replace him.

His deputy chief minister Stephen Marandi was more direct: “There was a feeling among the independents MLAs that the decision was being thrust upon them. When the UPA government was formed earlier in Jharkhand, Independents were first taken into confidence. This time, it was just opposite.”

He said, “No proposal for a better leadership was put before us. There were no convincing arguments given here as to why a change of leadership is required in Jharkhand at all.”

Mr Marandi said, “We will discuss all these matters with Independents. Our stand is the same. We want Koda as chief minister.”

But the dice was loaded heavily against Mr Koda, himself an Independent MLA, heading the government with the support of UPA and JMM besides the Independents, after the JMM withdrew its support to his government.

Mr Koda was still in the mood to fight for his survival as chief minister. But his hopes dashed with his chief backer Lalu Prasad announcing support for Shibu Soren. With the JMM, then Congress and finally RJD deciding not to support him, Koda had little chance of saving his government and surviving as chief minister during the confidence vote on Monday, August 25.

Immediately after landing in Delhi on Saturday, Koda drove straight to his mentor Lalu Prasad’s residence. Lalu informed him that the Congress party had decided to withdraw its support to his government and, therefore, it would be wise for him to step down gracefully rather than face the confidence vote.

When Koda expressed his unwillingness to step down and cited the firm backing of Independent MLAs, Lalu tried to reason with him by drawing his attention to the Congress party’s compulsions in supporting Soren. But when Koda appeared defiant, Lalu asked him to talk to Sonia Gandhi Koda then went on to meet Gandhi, who minced no words while asking him to step down and make way for Soren.

With Koda realising that the game was over for him, he announced his decision to resign rather than face a trust vote.

This was followed by Lalu Prasad’s announcement that the RJD was fully behind Soren. “We are also sending a letter of support carrying signatures of all seven RJD MLAs from Jharkhand to the Governor Syed Sibtey Razi to help formation of the Soren government,” Prasad said.

He said, “This is UPA’s decision to avoid President’s Rule in the state. Nobody wants elections. Hence, Soren now has our strong backing after Koda resigned. We are talking to Independents as well. RJD strongly supports Soren’s attempt to form the government.”

Prasad even assured the JMM chief that he would help in securing the support of independents whose support is crucial to ensure a smooth sailing for Soren.

After realizing that the game was slipping out of his hand, Koda also tried to extract a deal for himself. He tried to persuade the UPA leadership to either accommodate him in the Union council of ministers or get Soren to give him deputy chief ministership of state.

He said “a middle path out of the political crisis could be found” but refused to speculate what form it would take. “It all depends upon the discussions I will be having with the senior UPA leaders,” said Koda.

A section of the UPA leadership sees Koda’s resistance to the move by Soren as his way of impressing upon them that his political career should be taken care of and that he was no pushover given the backing of the Independents.

When asked whether he has been offered any ministry at the Centre for agreeing to make way for Soren, he said: “I am yet to get any information or message regarding any such move.”

He sidestepped a pointed query whether Soren, whom he always held in high esteem, is acceptable to him as chief minister.

Congress leaders from Jharkhand such as Thomas Hansda, who were disfavouring Soren’s bid to become chief minister a few days back, on Saturday said that they will abide by the decision of the party.

In the 82-member Assembly (with one seat vacant), JMM has 17 members, Congress 9 and RJD 7. The Opposition BJP has 29 members and its ally Janata Dal (United) four. Communist Party of India, Forward Bloc, Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and Nation-alist Congress Party have one member each, All Jharkhand Students Union has two and Independents and others number eight. One member is nominated.

Meanwhile, BJP rebels Vishnu Bhaiyya, Manohar Tekriwal and Independent Bandhu Tirkey, a minister in the Koda government, on Saturday huddled into discussions with Soren and other JMM leaders at his residence in Delhi before Soren left for Ranchi.

The Opposition BJP threatened to launch a state-wide agitation if Jharkhand Assembly Speaker Alamgir Alam did not dispose of the pending anti-defection petitions against a dozen MLAs before the UPA government sought a trust vote on August 25.

Addressing a joint press conference here after a dharna in the Assembly premises, NDA leaders said they would urge Governor Syed Sibtey Razi to direct the Speaker to dispose of the pending anti-defection petitions and prevent horse-trading.

“The governor’s direction will protect the credential of the tenth schedule…The MLAs facing anti-defection charges should not be allowed to indulge in manipulation during floor test,” BJP state unit president P N Singh and JD(U) state union chief Jaleswar Mahto said here.

The BJP’s sharp reaction has come after two of its suspended MLAs — Manohar Tekriwal and Vishnu Bhaiya — backed JMM chief Shibu Soren’s attempt to form a ministry.

 

KODA-CHRONOLOGY 2005

Feb 27 Results of Assembly elections announced

Mar 02            UPA forms ministry with Shibu Soren as CM

11        UPA avoids trust vote

11        Soren resigns/Arjun Munda invited to form government.

13        Munda sworn-in

15        Takes trust vote

2006

Sept 05            Four ministers resign, govt reduced to minority

06        Governor asks Munda to face trust vote on or before           Sept 15

14        Speaker Indersingh Namdhari resigns

15        Koda stakes claim

18        Koda sworn-in as CM with three ministers; given time till Sept 25 for trust vote

23        RJD announces outside support

Oct  08            Ministry expansion

28        100 days celebrations of Madhu Koda government

2007

Sept 17            Koda government completes one year in power

Nov  15            Congress gives ultimatum to Koda government

2008

July 23 Congress withdraws ultimatum

Aug  12            Shibu Soren demands Koda’s resignation

Aug  17            JMM withdraws support. Governor asks Koda to take Trust vote on or before Aug 25

Aug 23 Koda resigns

 

Strength of Parties in Jharkhand Assembly

Total Strength — 82

Party    No. of MLAs

BJP             29

Congress               09

JMM          17

RJD             07

JD (U)         04

CPI              01

Forward Bloc          01

CPI (ML)                 01

NCP            01

AJSU           02

Independents/others          08

Nominated             01