Reflecting growing resentment in a section of BJP top brass over continuing political uncertainty in Jharkhand, senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Friday said the State had become “a theatre of the absurd.”
“It has become a theatre of the absurd. I would not like to say anything more on this,” Mr. Joshi told reporters when asked for his views on JMM dilly-dallying over support to a BJP-led government.
His statement came as BJP appeared to have set a deadline of May 25 for a government led by its leader Arjun Munda to take charge, once JMM chief and Chief Minister Shibu Soren resigns as promised.
“BJP will hold a Parliamentary Board meeting on May 25 at 3 p.m. to discuss the Jharkhand issue,” party sources said.
They said the meeting has been scheduled as a back-up plan in case JMM creates a last minute hitch.
If JMM goes back on its word, BJP is likely to withdraw support to the Shibu Soren government by evening of May 25, the sources said.
After JMM Legislature Party leader Hemant Soren pledged support in writing to a BJP-led government, his party has gone back and forth on its word several times.
While Mr. Joshi refused to cross the “laxman rekha” of party discipline and did not elaborate on the issue, party sources said several members of BJP Parliamentary Board including L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley were opposed to government formation and favoured withdrawal of support to the Shibu Soren government in the tribal State.
