Political parties, including the BJP, which had demanded dissolution of the House to seek fresh mandate appear to be resigned to fate as the Congress leadership "seriously" weighs options to form a Government by taking the JMM, RJD and other splinter outfits and Independents on board, possibly by July first week.
One strong option was to ask the party legislators tender their resignation to put pressure on the Centre to dissolve the House or plan mass agitation to preempt the move. But the leadership of all these parties is not sure whether the MlAs will follow their diktat or not. The BJP, which has already planned to lay siege to the Raj Bhawan from July 14 to dissolve the House, appeared to be on back foot.
"We can't do anything if the Congress forms the Government with JMM before we hit the streets. We do not want take such a decision which can be implemented," pointed out a senior BJP leader. "Moreover, it is not sure that the Centre will buckle under our pressure. It is possible that the Congress-JMM might take it easy to get the number with the reduced strength of the House," he maintained.
The senior leader recalled the controversial political episode in 2005 when then Governor Syed Sibtey Razi had administered oath to Shibu Soren even as the BJP leaders, including Rajnath Singh staged dharna in front of Raj Bhawan. "So, the best option for us will be to keep our momentum alive against the Government in place and try to make the winds blow in our favour when the elections are held. It is win-win situation for us if a Congress-JMM Government is in place," he maintained.
Babulal Marandi-led JVM, which had knocked the door of President Pranab Mukherjee to dissolve the House, however, lambasted the Congress for indulging in horse-trading to form the Government. "The Congress was buying the party legislators to muster the support," he alleged. Upset with the "revolt" by party's Bokaro MlA advocating formation of the Government, the JVM leadership even issued a show cause to Samresh Singh for violating the party's stand. "We are issuing the showcause today for opposing the party's stand," said JVM general secretary Pravin Singh.
JVM sources said that the party's MlA Nizamuddin Ansari is also supporting Singh since the latter believed that he will not get the ticket this time as he was under the scanner of the CBI in the Rajya Sabha horse-trading case. AJSU chief Sudesh Mahto said that he didn't know about the Government formation. "But the people will not forgive those political parties which have created a situation of confusion for the last six months and thus depriving the people of their rights. It is not a healthy political tradition and the people will teach a lesson to such parties whenever the election takes place," he maintained and added that the AJSU still advocated fresh mandate to come out of the political morass.
But the million dollar question is whether these parties could maintain enthusiasm among their cadres for the next one and half years.Meanwhile, the Congress and JMM leaders expected to end the political stalemate by the first week of July."Our talks with the JMM to form the Government are in a positive direction," Congress national secretary Geetashree Oraon told The Pioneer from Delhi. "We look forward to take our trusted partners like the RJD on board," she said and added that the JD(U) is also keen to join the Government.
On the issue of taking support from the Independents, she said, "let us see how the numbers jack up."The JMM, on the other hand, said that the Congress has only two options now. "It will either form the Government or recommend for the dissolution of the House. We think that the Congress needs Shibu Soren's face not only to fight elections in Jharkhand but also in the neighbouring States to get tribal votes. That is the reason they are insisting on Guruji as the Chief Minister," added a JMM core committee member.
Significantly, both the parties have planned a show of strength at Bhognadih in Sahibganj district, the birthplace of tribal martyrs Sidho-Kanhu, the flag bearers of Santhal rebellion beginning on June 30, 1855. It was supposed to be the first rebellion against the Britishers for freedom.
The high profile leaders, including Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, party's Jharkhand incharge B K Hariprasad will lead the Congress show while Shibu Soren alongwith Hemant will lead the JMM programme ostensibly aimed at paying tributes to the martyrs. Hariprasad has said that he will be meeting Guruji on the occasion. "So, the meeting is supposed to be politically significant and not an annual political ritual," pointed out a Congress leader.