JVM-P legislature party heads towards split; two MLAs meet

The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) legislative party is heading for a split with two of its MLAs meeting Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, amid indication of their joining the grand old party.

JVM-P led by former chief minister Babulal Marandi has three MLAs--Marandi himself, Bandhu Tirkey and Pradip Yadav- in the present House.

Tirkey and Yadav met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi Thursday evening with the AICC in-charge R P N Singh, triggering speculation of their joining the party.

In a significant political development,the JVM-P on Friday announced its decision to withdraw support to the Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand,accusing the ruling alliance partner Congress of attempting to poach its MLAs.

The JVM-P had supported the opposition coalition ministry from outside and its withdrawal would not have any impact on the government that has 47 MLAs in the 81-member house.

"Our party has extended support to the Hemant Soren government. But its coalition partner, Congress is attempting to poach our MLAs. In view of that, the party has decided to withdraw its support, JVM-P General Secretary Saroj Singh told reporters here.

He said the party has also decided to remove Pradip Yadav as the legislature party leader in the state assembly and sent a letter to the Speaker in this connection.

The letter signed by Marandi and addressed to Soren said, "Our party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) had on December 24, 2019, gave a letter of unconditional support to the government under your (Hemant Soren) leadership.But the Congress, which is a part of the UPA, is trying to break our MLAs, which the newspapers have published prominently today.

"In this context, our party has reviewed its support and decided to withdraw support to the UPA government under your leadership," the letter, a copy of which was released to the media, said.

On the two MLAs meeting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, JPCC spokesman Alok Kumar Dubey told PTI "The two leaders got the blessings of our senior leaders. They are welcome to join the party."
When queried whether their move has anything to do with the speculations in the media that the JVM-P might merge with the BJP, Yadav sarcastically replied, "Merger tou BJP mein bhi ho sakta hei, Congress mein bhi ho sakta hein (merger can be with the BJP or with the Congress)."