Defying Samata Party President George Fernandes' warnings, Jharkhand Urban Development Minister Bacha Singh, leading five dissident ministers, on Monday said they would intensify their 'crusade' for Chief Minister Babulal Marandi's removal.
Threatening to split the party on the issue, Singh said, "The rebel ministers would not hesitate to form their own new political party if the need arises and would not care even if a split came in the Samata Party."
He blamed Marandi for 'inefficiency and corrupt practices' in the government and said the chief minister had even 'surpassed Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav in his dictatorial policies'.
Marandi is responsible for creating dissidence in the government, Singh alleged.
Besides Bacha Singh, Excise Minister Ramesh Singh Munda, Physical Education Minister Jaleshwar Mahto, Revenue Minister Madhu Singh [all Samata] and Energy minister Lal Chand Mahto(JD-U)rebelled against Marandi protesting over the issue of transfer of Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service officers.
Singh said that all problems could be solved if the chief minister reversed his decision and ordered vesting all powers with the state cabinet.
He regretted that he should taken decision long back to quit the ministry, but claimed his mentor Digvijay Singh (Samata) had persuaded him to refrain from taking such decision.