BJP support to JMM annoys JD(U)

RANCHI: Prestige of the ruling alliance and the future of the government is at stake in the Mandu bypoll.
Decision of two important allies of the Munda government, the BJP and the Ajsu, to support JMM candidate Jaipraksh Bhai Patel has annoyed the JD(U). The decision has created a rift in the ruling alliance.
The bypoll scheduled for November 30 was necessitated following the death of sitting JMM MLA Taklal Mahato in September.
JD(U) leaders are unhappy with the BJP as the two parties have a national-level alliance. After being sidelined in the ruling alliance as it has only two MLAs in the 81-member assembly against 18 of the BJP, 17 of the JMM and five of the Ajsu, some senior JD(U) leaders have even threatened to withdraw support.
Sources in the JD(U) said the party was ignored because it has only two legislators. "Let the election be over and then we will teach them a lesson. They have undermined the strength of the party in Mandu and have forgotten that the seat was with us in the last election. If other partners are ready to run the government alone, we also have no problem," said a legislator adding the party may withdraw support from the government after the byelection even if it brings political instability in the state.
Former minister and sitting JD(U) MLA Sudha Chaudhary criticized the BJP for not following the coalition dharma. "We have majority in Bihar but the BJP should have followed it in Jharkhand by supporting our candidate Khiru Mahato," said Chaudhary. Mahato is also state JD(U) president.
However, the BJP has an explanation, too. The JD-U has fielded its state president, who could not get the party's arrow symbol as it has lost recognition in the state after the last assembly election. "It does not look nice for a national party like BJP to support an independent candidate. Had he got a party symbol, we would have supported him," said state HRD minister Baidyanath Ram of the BJP.