Thaindian News

Ranchi, May 15 (IANS) The results of the Lok Sabha polls and the Jamatara assembly byelection will decide whether Jharkhand will see an alternative government or the dissolution of the state assembly and fresh elections.
President’s Rule was imposed in Jharkhand Jan 19, as no alliance came forward to form an alternative government after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren resigned as chief minister on losing the Tamar assembly byelection.

Though President’s Rule was imposed in Jharkhand, the state assembly has been kept under suspended animation.

The JMM chief is fighting both the Lok Sabha poll as well as the assembly byelection. JMM leaders say they will stake their claim to forming an alternative government if Soren wins the assembly byelection.

“In Jharkhand, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) enjoys a majority in the state assembly. The JMM, with help of allies, will stake claim to forming an alternative government after Guruji (Shibu Soren) wins the assembly byelection,” party general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya told IANS.

According to political experts, the possibilities of an alternative government in Jharkhand will brighten if the UPA succeeds in forming government at the centre.

However, Congress leaders in Jharkhand are ready for either option.

“We favour President’s Rule and fresh elections by end of the year. If the JMM succeeds in managing numbers, we are not adverse to forming an alterative government,” a Congress leader said.

However, the experts also say that if Soren loses the assembly byelection, then fresh elections will be the only option in the state.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that if it comes to power at the centre, then the state assembly would be dissolved and the governor would also be recalled.

“If the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) comes to power at centre, then the assembly would be dissolved and fresh elections will take place in the state,” BJP state unit chief Raghubar Das said.