BJP tally down to 18, decides to lie low

Reeling under a series of election upsets, the BJP failed to break the jinx as its tally in Jharkhand fell to 18 from 30 in the 2005 elections.

Reeling under a series of election upsets, the BJP failed to break the jinx as its tally in Jharkhand fell to 18 from 30 in the 2005 elections.

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Its ally Janata Dal (U) managed two seats against six it had.

The party’s parliamentary board, which met for the first time under new president Nitin Gadkari, decided to see what the Congress does to cobble up a formation. The message went out to BJP managers to see how the Congress bargains and then work on a counter-strategy.

The BJP’s eyes were on the bearded “Guruji”. In a House of 81 seats, Shibu Soren-led Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) surprised other players by securing 18 seats.

Senior BJP leaders saw a tough task for Congress interlocutors to get the JMM on their side and, at the same time, retain the support of the Jharkhand Vikas Manch led by one-time BJP CM Babulal Marandi.

The JMM, which is seeking a tough bargain, said its support would go to anyone who supports “Guruji”.

Also, the BJP is looking at 13 MLAs from the “Others” category and Independents.

BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar said, “The BJP board has noted the results. A hung assembly is detrimental to the interest... of the state. The BJP is closely watching the exercise of government formation.”

The BJP’s actor-MP Shatrughan Sinha blamed the results on the party’s failure to project Yashwant Sinha as chief ministerial candidate and faulty distribution of tickets.

Shatrughan was one of the party’s star campaigners.