Election is the only option in Jharkhand: Marandi

Former Jharkhand chief minister and JVM-P leader Babulal Marandi has said holding elections in the state is the only alternative.

"Only elections are the alternative in Jharkhand as no party or group has come to stake claim for the formation of a government," the founder and national president of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) said at a function.

Jharkhand came under President's rule for the second time on June 1 after all the parties had refused to form government.
Marandi blamed the Congress for the state administration's decision to withdraw certain facilities to former Jharkhand chief ministers.

"The decision has unmasked the Congress' anti-tribal face. The decision to withdraw facilities was taken as all the four ex-CMs are tribals," claimed Marandi, whose party has a pre-poll tie-up with the Congress. Several other states have the provision of providing facilities to ex-CMs, he added.

Last week, the Governor's advisory council had taken a decision to redraw facilities enjoyed by the ex-CMs.

Besides Marandi, JMM president Shibu Soren, BJP's general secretary Arjun Munda and Madhu Koda have been at the helm of affairs at different times and enjoy sprawling accommodation and various other benefits.