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BJP and Rudy in damage-control over Jharkand
Both the BJP and its spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy today got into damage-control mode following a huge embarrassment to the organisation after his reported remarks that he was opposed to the party tying up with JMM to form a coalition government in Jharkhand.
Both the BJP and its spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy today got into damage-control mode following a huge embarrassment to the organisation after his reported remarks that he was opposed to the party tying up with JMM to form a coalition government in Jharkhand.
Under attack over the tie-up decision, BJP President Nitin Gadkari went a step further to say that it was Congress and not not JMM chief Shibu Soren who was responsible for corruption in politics.
Rudy, who had at a meeting of the BJP's students wing in Kolkata on December 26 expressed reservations over the party aligning with Soren, sought to wriggle out of the controversy triggered by his remarks.
He said his statement that BJP should sit in the opposition in Jharkhand were his personal opinion made before the alliance with JMM was formed. He firmly with the leadership's decision on the issue.
The Rajya Sabha member maintained that at that juncture, the BJP Parliamentary Board in Delhi was exploring three options: staying out of government and sitting in the opposition, supporting the government from outside, and joining and being part of the government.
"The decision to opt any one of them was left to the central leadership visiting Jharkhand and consultation with the state leadership," he said.
Rudy said it was decided to form a government in Jharkhand with JMM and AJSU after assessing the ground realities. "The Party has taken a stand and I am with the stand of the party," Rudy said.
Gadkari, who received Soren in the BJP office in Mumbai today, said Rudy has not not said any thing as was reported and "it is enough to say this much at this juncture".
He defended the party's decision to support Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Shibu Soren saying stability and
interests of the people of that state were the only concerns.
About the conviction of Soren in a murder case and the party's criticism then, Gadkari said he has been acquitted
by courts and it was natural in a democracy.
Talking to reporters here, the BJP President said it was Congress and not Soren who was responsible for corruption
in politics. "The courts have also taken a decision in his favour," he said.
Gadkari said BJP had no option but to support Soren to provide a stable government in the interests of the people of
the state. The alliance partners will prepare a common programme for governance.
Soren himself said the new alliance comprising BJP, AJSU and his party would provide a stable government in the state.
