State politics seems to have been thrown in the backyard in Jharkhand in the exhilaration for lok Sabha polls.
National and regional parties are so busy in manoeuvring exercises that despite many of the MlAs defecting to other parties and the ruling coalition turning into an apparent minority, no one seems to be interested in approaching the Governor or the Speaker demanding a floor test in the House.
At least five of the ruling coalition MlAs have left their parties for greener pastures. Recently sacked Minister Chandrashekhar Dubey from Congress joined the Trinamool Congress along with Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch's Bandhu Tirkey and Bishunpur MlA Chamra linda. Former JMM Minister Hemlal Murmu has joined the BJP to contest lS polls from Raj Mahal constituency, while Jagannathpur MlA Geeta Koda is also set to fight the polls on her own from Chaibasa.
Tirkey, linda and Koda were expecting tickets from Congress to fight polls from their preferred constituencies Ranchi, lohardaga and Chaibasa respectively. However, after denial of seats they chose to tread a different way. In the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly the JMM-Congress-RJD coalition has support of 43 MlAs that includes these five. Since Hemlal Murmu, Dadai Dubey, Bandhu Tirkey and Chamra linda have joined other parties their support to the coalition in a probable floor test is a big question.
At least two of them — Murmu and Dubey are least likely to support the government given their reservations with their former party leaders. Tirkey and linda have not yet openly said about their allegiance to the government though Tirkey said, "let the polls (General Elections) finish, we will teach them a lesson. We will act according to Didi's (Mamata Banerjee) guidance."
Former CM Madhu Koda's wife and Geeta Koda is also in a catch 22 situation as she finds it improbable for her to support the government anymore. However, her husband's ongoing corruption cases may lead to some political manoeuvring, said sources close to lady Koda. In the given circumstances the situation of the Government remaining in majority remains a mystery, especially when none of the leaders or parties coming forward to meet the Speaker of the House or the Governor to request for conducting a floor test.
leader of Opposition in the House and former CM Arjun Munda said that the party was watching the scenario very carefully and would act at the appropriate time. "leaders have defected but the TMC has not given any official instruction to their leaders (Dubey, Tirkey and linda) to withdraw support from the government. It may be their strategy but we will take a well planned step before approaching the Governor. We are watching …," Munda said.
Interestingly, despite the Government walking a tightrope authorities have maintained a neutral stand. Assembly Speaker SS Bhokta said that he might act on official information. "The matter has not reached to me till now. Although it is to be decided by the Governor whether the government is in minority or not, I will act according to the provisions under the law. Someone will have to give it in writing if one really thinks so," the Speaker said. Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha has decided to meet the Governor over the issue.
"We have sent a request to Raj Bhawan for meeting the Governor. The meeting may take place on March 19. We will request the Governor to dismiss the minority government in the state else the coalition should prove its majority in the House," said JVM legislature Party leader Pradeep Yadav.