Jharkhand may see longer spell of President's Rule

With the Centre nominating three senior officers as advisors to the governor, it has indicated that President's Rule, which was imposed early this week, is going to stay for a longer period in Jharkhand.

The Centre has notified appointment of Sunila Basant, G Krishnan and TP Sinha as advisors to governor Syed Sibtey Razi.

While Ms Basant, a senior IAS officer, is on central deputation, Mr Krishnan, also a retired IAS officer, has been chief secretary and development commissioner of Jharkhand. TP Sinha, a retired IPS officer, was the first director general of police of Jharkhand.

With this, all speculation regarding formation of an alternate government have been put to rest. The root of the speculation was the move to keep the assembly in suspended animation. However, the way the governor is going ahead with running the administration, it seems unlikely, sources said.

He also effected a minor bureaucratic reshuffle earlier. Sources, however, said Mr Razi may go in for a major bureaucratic reshuffle after Republic Day celebrations. Sources also said that he may also recommend dissolution of the assembly after a few days as the chances of formation of an alternate government are getting slimmer day by day.

What has given strength to the belief is the complete disinterest shown by the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, a key player in the Jharkhand politics, toward formation of any government during his short Koderma visit on Friday.

There was speculation that Mr Yadav would pay a visit to Nemra village, harldy 30 km from Koderma, where JMM supremo Shibu Soren was staying at that time, for attending his brother's 'shradh' function.

However, contrary to expectations, Mr Yadav neither paid a visit to Mr Soren nor showed any interest in formation of an alternate government.

In fact, when some RJD members drew his attention toward it, he merely told them to forget about it and concentrate on elections.

Mr Razi, who returned from New Delhi on Friday evening after meeting President Pratibha Patil, held a high-level meeting on Saturday in which he reviewed the progress of the directives which he had given to the officials in the first two-three days of taking over charge, after President's Rule was imposed in the state.