Cold calculations

Jharkhand is set to have a new government after a gap of six months. But it is not because any political party is concerned about the  lack of governance in the state.  The President’s rule,  which was imposed in  January this year was to expire next week. There was no effort to form a government after the BJP-led Arjun Munda government collapsed on withdrawal of support by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).

The composition of the Assembly was such that a stable government was not possible. Even now the position is the same but the difference is that the Congress wants a political dispensation in Jharkhand which will help it electorally in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Therefore, with a year to go for the term of the Assembly to end, it has entered into an agreement with the JMM, and paved the way  for formation of a government supported by a host of small parties and independents.

JMM leader Hemant Soren will form the government but it is unlikely to last the full term of the assembly, in view of the past record of political  instability in the state. Jharkhand  has seen nine  governments in the 12 years since its formation, with three spells of President’s rule.  The Congress probably wants the present arrangement to continue till the parliament elections. Its deal with the JMM is that it will contest 10 out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state with backing from the local party in return for  its support to the state government. But since the government is supported by many disparate groups, it may not even survive till the elections.

It is unfortunate that one of the most backward but most resource-rich states in the country has not been able to find its bearings and live up to its potential, and has had to move from one political experiment to another for over a decade. Jharkhand was formed on the assumption that separate statehood would give a boost to its development. While its parent state, which was supposed to be dependent on its mineral resources, has made major strides, it has suffered from its fragmented politics,  the cynicism of political parties and the selfishness of leaders. The state cannot hope for stability and development as long as this situation continues.