Law Kumar Mishra
Patna, December 26
The political developments in Arunachal Pradesh and the ensuing state polls in West Bengal would reportedly dominate the two-day national council and executive committee meeting of the JDU that got off here Saturday evening.
The meeting that started at Karpoori Thakur auditorium on Beerchand Patel road was attended by representatives from different states. They expressed faith in the leadership of national president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and claimed despite the JDU bagging 43 seats in Bihar, the popularity of Nitish Kumar was not affected.
JDU may not be in a friendly act with the BJP in West Bengal assembly elections. JDU’s West Bengal unit president Ashok Kumar Das who is attending the two-day meeting said, “JDU has a strong base in 23 districts in West Bengal. We are prepared to contest the assembly elections independently.”
He said the West Bengal unit had prepared the list of its candidates who were willing to contest against both TMC and BJP and would wait for the approval of Nitish Kumar.
K C Tygai, National Secretary General of the JDU talked on Arunachal Pradesh developments related to six out of seven JDU MLAs joining the BJP. He alleged, “This was an unfriendly act by a party considered to be a friendly alliance partner. It is against the coalition dharma.”
Tyagi said defections from JDU to BJP were unwarranted as BJP enjoyed a clear majority in the 60-members assembly of Arunachal Pradesh.
His charge was denied by the BJP principal spokesman, Prem Ranjan Patel who claimed the JDU MLAs had applied for their admission in the BJP. He claimed BJP did not force them to quit JDU and join BJP. He commented: “It is absolutely wrong to put blame on the BJP as the JDU failed to have control over its MLAs. Do not try to impose your failure on BJP,” Patel said.
Manoj Jha, Rajya Sabha MP of RJD commented, “BJP has become a man eater. It will swallow the entire JDU in Bihar too.” Shivananad Tiwari, RJD national vice-president said the BJP had betrayed its own partner.
BJP continued its pressure on the JDU alleging failure of the chief minister in maintaining law and order and crime. On Saturday evening, former union minister and senior BJP MLA Sanjay Paswan demanded Nitish Kumar should hand over the home portfolio to a BJP minister. He regretted that Nitish Kumar had failed as home minister.
Paswan also asked the chief minister to replace the principal secretary of the home department, Amir Subhani immediately. According to Paswan, “It is strange Amir Subhani has been the state’s home secretary for the last 15 years-from secretary to principal secretary and now as additional chief secretary. A competent officer should be appointed in his place,” he demanded.
BJP MP from Rohtas Chhedi Paswan last week demanded removal of the district SP of Rohtas alleging Satyabir Singh had failed in controlling crimes. State BJP president Sanjay Jaiswal on December 4 had also alleged total collapse of law and order and rise in crime graph. He had alleged the police officers were not listening to the complaints of even MPs.
