Jamshedpur, April 30: Chief minister Arjun Munda is understood to have started preparations for the tough task of pruning his ministry and has even told his partymen to get ready for early elections in case the allies don’t agree.

The government has 24 ministers in a House of 82. Under the new law, which says that the ministerial strength cannot exceed 15 per cent of the total number of elected members, 13 ministers will have to face the axe.

Of the 24 ministers, 14 are from the BJP (excluding Munda), the Janata Dal (United) has seven, and one each from the All Jharkhand Students’ Union (Ajsu), JMM (D) and an Independent.

The BJP thinktank in the state does not foresee any major problem in persuading some of the party ministers to give up their portfolios, but is not so sure about its allies, given that the JD (U) and Ajsu chose to contest against it in the Lok Sabha poll.

“Our allies have demonstrated how unpredictable they can be. We are apprehensive that if we ask some of them to give up their ministerships, they would rebel and reduce the coalition government to a minority,” said a senior BJP leader.

Much to the annoyance of the BJP, the JD (U) contested in five seats — Palamau, Chatra, Khunti, Godda and Giridih — and threatens to queer the pitch for the party in these constituencies, which are expected to witness keen battles.

“The state BJP’s gameplan,” said a party leader, “is to involve all its allies in the tough task of curtailing the size of the ministry. Munda has been advised not to take any unilateral decision on the allies lest he becomes a villain before the Assembly polls. Rather, the chief minister would seek a list from the allies, especially the JD (U) leadership, on the ministers that they want dropped.”

The BJP think-tank believes such a move would escalate infighting among the JD(U) leaders as it thinks that none of the seven ministers from the party is ready to sacrifice their portfolios.

“There are all possibilities that the allies could withdraw their support on that issue reducing the coalition government to a minority. We are ready for that eventuality. The chief minister has been advised to recommend dissolution of the Assembly in case such a situation arises and go in for early polls rather than try to mollify the partners to complete the term of the present government,” BJP sources said.

Assembly election is due in February next year but the state BJP leadership is “mentally prepared” to face the poll earlier.

“In fact in case of early elections, the party will go to the masses explaining how its allies ditched the BJP for their own selfish interest and highlight the need to give us a complete majority in the state polls,” said a senior leader.