Mumbai/New Delhi: Both the BJP and its
spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Monday 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 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 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.
PTI
First Published: Monday, December 28, 2009, 22:00