Jharkhand a hopeless case: BJP source

Notwithstanding its bold claims in public about having a majority support in the Jharkhand assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party could foresee little success in its attempt to cobble together the required strength to stay in power in the state where the resignations of four ministers have reduced the National Democratic Alliance government to a minority.

"We are not very confident that we will be able to cobble together a majority to prove it on the floor of the house," a senior BJP leader, who requested not to be named, said after the party's core group meeting on the Jharkhand crisis.

Something that can raise the BJP's hope will be a situation warranting the President's Rule in the state, the leader said.

"No legislator will like the state to come under the President's Rule. Such a situation can arise if there are potential claims and counter claims about majority. But then again it will be a difficult for our party," the BJP leader said.

However, senior BJP leader M Venkaiah Naidu alleged that the Congress' central leadership was trying to misuse the office of the Governor to destabilize the Arjun Munda government.

Talking to media persons after a three-hour party meeting chaired by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at his residence in New Delhi, he said: "Ministers may have resigned but we still have a majority and let it be tested on the floor of the house."

"We will like to warn the Congress and the UPA leadership against any misadventure in Jharkhand. We caution them against any misuse of the position of the Governor," Naidu said, insisting the Congress had two years ago attempted to
keep the BJP from power despite it winning mandate.