Expressing a sense of victory, AICC general secretary in-charge for Jharkhand B.K. Hariprasad said, “When allies are deserting NDA, new parties are coming to UPA.” In a party statement, Mr Hariprasad said that both parties decided to form the alliance to “protect and promote secular and progressive values and to ensure the further empowerment of the weaker sections of society”.
The tribal-dominated state was under President’s Rule since January 18 after the collapse of the Arjun Munda-led BJP government as JMM withdrew support from it on January 8. President’s Rule expires on July 18.
The Congress and the JMM had fought 2004 Lok Sabha polls together with CPI and RJD also being the part of the grand alliance, which had secured 13 of the 14 seats then. In the next election in 2009, when they fought separately, Congress could win one and JMM only two.
The coalition government in Jharkhand will function in accordance with a common agenda of governance and common minimum programme, which will be monitored by a coordination committee.
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Jayant Malaiya given MP govt finance ministry
Lalit Shastri
Bhopal, July 5
Madhya Pradesh finance minister was quick in sending his resignation to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who immediately accepted it. The CM was not available for comment as he cancelled a scheduled programme and left for Raipur. Before seeking the minister’s resignation, the CM held detailed consultations with state BJP president Narendra Singh Tomar, national BJP vice-president Prabhat Jha and state BJP election management in-charge Anil Dave. The finance portfolio has been given to senior state minister Jayant Malaiya. When contacted, the finance minister denied the charges.
According to available information, the BJP top brass went into fire-fighting mode vis-à-vis the Raghavji issue on Wednesday since it was figuring in the chargesheet linked with the main Opposition Congress party’s no-confidence motion being brought in the Monsoon Session of the state Assembly.
Agitated Congress workers gathered in large numbers in front of Habibganj police station during the day demanding that an FIR be registered and the minster be arrested immediately. Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Singh said the minister episode shows the moral decline of the state BJP government, which is already neck-deep in corruption.