BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and JMM State president Sudam Marandi’s joint declaration of seat-sharing arrangement between the two parties here on Friday is all set to trigger a political turmoil within the JMM. The ‘unilateral decision’ may attract disciplinary action on Marandi from the central committee of the JMM.
The JMM central party has reportedly resented Marandi’s personal decision of alignment with the BJD without its approval or any prior consultation. The party viewed the development seriously as it is contrary to the spirit of existing alliance with Congress in Jharkhand.
When the JMM is ruling in Jharkhand by forging a pact with Congress as its partner, how can Sudam Marandi on his own forge a poll pact with the BJD, questioned a senior JMM leader, adding the central committee is likely to sit soon to discuss and decide on the issue after arrival of president Sibu Soren in Ranchi from his tour outside the State. Sources said that the JMM high command may view the handiwork of Marandi as anti-party activity and may show the door to the former MP.
Meanwhile, the Odisha Congress leadership has reportedly drawn the attention of the AICC on the new political arrangements of the JMM with the BJD. The State leaders told the AICC leaders that the poll pact would affect the prospects of Congress both in lok Sabha and Assembly seats. According to sources, the JMM is not going to gain any thing out the poll pact with the BJD as Naveen Patnaik had already maintained that his party would field candidates in all the 21 lok Sabha seats leaving a few Assembly seats to the JMM in Maurbhanj and Sundargarh. Observers feel that for all practical purposes, the BJD will take the JMM for a jolly political ride.
BJD supremo Patnaik had made the announcement of seat sharing arrangement between the two parties in presence of State JMM chief Marandi. Stating that seat sharing between the two parties would be held for the Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts where the JMM has a lot of clout, Patnaik said he hoped that both parties would do well in the two districts. Welcoming the poll pact, Marandi had also said that the seat sharing arrangement would be finalised later.
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