New Delhi: The BJP-JMM combine is likely to get the nod for formation of a government in Jharkhand on Wednesday with Congress indicating that it wants the political process to play itself out and feels the coalition will fall apart within a year due to internal contradictions. "If they (BJP-JMM) form a government, it will not last more than one year given the internal contradictions of their alliance and their past record.
They will muddy the water so much in this period that Congress would emerge as the natural choice of the people when elections are held thereafter," a senior party leader said on condition of anonymity.
Asked why Congress did not go for forming a government with JMM, the leader said there is a trust deficit with JMM. "Even if we had formed the government with them, there is no guarantee of its stability. JMM is a party in total drift. The father says something, the son something else. Nobody knows whom to talk to and who commands the party," the leader said.
Congress sources said that the dissolution of the state assembly has been ruled out as the feedback from the state indicates that there would not be much of a change in the existing fractured composition of the assembly even after fresh elections.
"Let them (BJP-JMM) expose themselves. We will fill the vacuum thereafter," the source said. AICC in-charge of the state, K Keshav Rao said, "it is the discretion of the government whom to invite for government formation". Rao said people have seen the JMM-BJP government earlier also and Congress was not interested in playing any role. Earlier in the day, Congress Core Group headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took stock of the situation in Jharkhand.
In the meeting of the Core Group, which lasted for over an hour, Home Minister P Chidambaram is learnt to have briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi on the situation in the state and options before the UPA in the wake of BJP and JMM tying up to form a government there.
Both the parties are tying up again after splitting three months back following cross voting by JMM chief Shibu Shoren in Lok Sabha during cut motions in the Budget session in April brought by BJP and Left parties.
Congress, which has 14 MLAs and its ally JVMP 11 MLAs in a House with an effective strength of 81, has so far been reluctant to go for any alternative government formation in the state.
Sources in the government also indicated that the Centre will not come in the way of formation of a new government in Jharkhand led by BJP and may initiate the process of revoking President's rule there once a report from Governor M O H Farooq comes tomorrow.
"If the Governor recommends revocation of the President's rule, the Central government will do accordingly and will not come in the way of forming a government led by the BJP," a senior government functionary said.
In fast-paced developments in Ranchi, the JMM offered "unconditional" support to the BJP after which its Legislature Party elected former chief minister Arjun Munda as its leader. Munda met the Governor and claimed the support of 45 legislators in a House with an effective strength of 81. PTI
