Babulal Marandi

Ranchi, June 29: Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) chief Babulal Marandi today demanded dissolution of the Assembly and asked Governor M.O.H. Farook to pave the way for holding fresh elections in the state.

“Even a month after President’s rule was imposed in the state, there is no indication of an alternative government being formed in the state. The BJP has already demanded early elections. So, keeping the House under suspended animation would mean that the Centre wants to leave scope for horse-trading in the state,” Marandi told The Telegraph.

After failing to get any “positive indication” from Congress quarters, Marandi has called a meeting of the JVM working committee on July 3 to decide the party’s future course of action.

JVM sources said the party would launch a ‘gaon chalo’ campaign to gear up party cadres for the impending elections and at the same time embarrass the Congress.

The Congress, however, appeared non-committal about dissolving the House. Congress MLAs led by Rajendra Prasad Singh even scouted support for government formation in Delhi.

“We are yet to give any serious thought to the issue,” Jharkhand Congress in-charge K. Keshav Rao told The Telegraph over phone.

“Marandi’s is one view. There is also another view on the government formation. So, we are neither for forming the government nor opposing it. We will sit together and take a decision soon,” Rao added.

Marandi responded by stating that the Congress had assured JVM fresh elections after the June 17 Rajya Sabha elections were over.

The former chief minister said he was in favour of forming the government if the parties and legislators extended support without any conditions. “But they not only demanded ministries of choice but also money. I was not ready to accept those conditions. Now, there is no possibility of forming the government,” he said.

Marandi also maintained that he was not eager to be chief minister amid the “jor-tor” (manipulation) by the parties.