Jharkhand: BJP MLAs to resign on Wednesday

In a bid to pressurise the United Progressive Alliance government to hold early assembly elections in Jharkhand which is under President's Rule, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday announced that all its 22 Members of Legislative Assembly will submit their resignation to the governor on Wednesday.

"BJP Jharkhand unit office-bearers and the core group apprised the party's Parliamentary Board about the political situation in the state and the need for early assembly polls there. The board has given all 22 BJP MLAs there the go-ahead to submit their resignation to the governor on September 9," BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said.

The party has 21 elected MLAs and one nominated legislator in the 82-member assembly.

Congress has nine MLAs and 17 seats are vacant in the assembly. "Elections are being held in Haryana where polls were due only in February, 2010, but not in Jharkhand which completes its term on January 19 next year," Kumar said, adding BJP MLAs will meet Election Commission officials soon to press their demand for early polls.

BJP state unit head Raghubar Das said Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had promised in Parliament that elections will be held in the state after monsoons but the government failed to keep its word.

I have faith in Sonia Gandhi: Shibu Soren

Meanwhile, at a time when Congress leaders are planning to go alone in Jharkhand assembly elections, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha President Shibu Soren on Mobday expressed his faith in UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

"I have faith in the Congress president. But UPA in the state could break if there is no control over the state Congress leaders," Soren said, apparently referring to Pradesh Congress Committee leaders, who are openly opposing any tie-up.

"The JMM will contest all the nine assembly seats in the Palamau division, but can consider seat sharing if any non-Rashtriya Janata Dal parties come forward," Soren told mediapersons without making any commitment over JMM's choice of alliance partner.

Rejecting suggestions of any tie-up with RJD, Soren, who had to quit as chief minister following his defeat in the Tamar assembly by-poll in January, alleged that he was a victim of conspiracy.

"I lost Tamar seat following a conspiracy. People wanted to control Jharkhand affairs through President's rule," claimed Soren without naming anyone.

The state has been put under President's rule from January 19. The tribal leader claimed that the main contenders for the next assembly elections would be the JMM and the BJP.