‘BJP can topple Soren but cannot come to power’

Ranchi: Given the present political equation in Jharkhand, the idea of forming a new government under the BJP by poaching UPA MLAs is a distant dream, experts of legislative matters have opined.
Accused of horse trading, BJP, at best, can topple the government by luring a few UPA MLAs to withdraw support but using them to form a new government was almost impossible, they said. The experts believe that with 26 MLAs of its own and support of two Ajsu and two Independent MLAs, the saffron brigade requires at least 11 more MLAs to form government and these many MLAs are not available without touching Congress or JMM.
Senior advocate RN Sahay, who has been representing his clients in defection cases, said to reach the magic figure of 41 in the 81-member house, BJP requires support of at least 11 more MLAs. “It is wrong to imagine that MLAs from Congress or JMM would join them without attracting disqualification under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution. “Congress is a national party and any misadventure of the MLAs to form a new group would attract disqualification,” he said, pointing to the fact that disqualification clauses don’t apply only when two-third of the members of a party defects either to form a new party or join some other party.
BJP state spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo said the allegations of poaching on BJP to topple the UPA government were premeditated to divert attention from real issues. “It was aimed at diverting the attention of people from serious corruption charges faced by the chief minister and his coterie. We limited our demand to disqualification of the CM for his corrupt practice of obtaining mining lease in his name while holding the office of CM and mines minister,” he said.
Even the JMM is aware of the limitations of BJP that under no circumstances it is in a position to form a government after toppling the UPA government in state. The tribal party with 30 members in the 81-member house is confident that poaching 20 MLA (the minimum requirement to ensure two third defection to avoid disqualification) is impossible.
Party spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said that “operation lotus” has proved to be “operation bogus” in Jharkhand.