PATNA, July 22: The Jharkhand movement in Bihar today got a fillip when the State Assembly adopted an official resolution for creation of a separate Jharkhand state. The resolution was brought forth by the ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which agreed to a "political tradeoff" when Laloo Prasad Yadav's Ministry was reduced to a minority following a split in the Janata Dal (JD).

The resolution also marked a volteface by the Chief Minister, who had once said that a separate Jharkhand state would be createdon his dead body. "I had once said that Jharkhand state would be created on my dead body.... I withdraw my statement today," he said during an impromptu discussion in the Assembly before adoption of the resolution. Laloo, while dealing with the agitation for statehood with an iron hand, had said, "a separate Jharkhand state would virtually mean cessation of the entire mine-bearing region having a rich network of industries from Bihar".

The statehood for the Jharkhand region would practically reduce Bihar into a "none too happy agro economy," he had maintained. However, with his Government being reduced to a minority in the State Assembly following a split in the JD, the Jharkhand leaders, particularly those of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Soren (JMMS), which had been in the vanguard of the movement for statehood, grabbed the opportunity with both hands and bargained hard for an official resolution for creation of a separate state.

Laloo, who was in dire need of support from the 16 member JMM (S) Legislature Party in the State Assembly, offered sops like according the status of Deputy Chief Minister to the chairman of interim Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council (JAAC) Shibu Soren, and that of Cabinet Minister to vice-chairman Suraj Mandal. All executive councillors were also conferred the status of Deputy Ministers. Soren and Mandal are president and vicepresident of the JMM (S). The JMM (S) leaders were, however, not satisfied with the package and persisted in their demand for an offficial resolution for creation of Jharkhand state to which the beleaguered Chief Minister agreed.

Though the Congress has welcomed the action, describing it as "a watershed development", the JD, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and lLeft parties have criticisedit. A senior JD leader and former Bihar Minister Ramai Ram said the Chief Minister had decided to bring forth the resolution "as a tradeoffto save his chair".

"The Chief Minister should have taken into confidence other parties before taking such a vital decision," he said.

State BJP vice-president Yashodanand Singh said his party was a strong votary of statehood for the area, "but the way in which the Government has sought to create it by politically bribing Jharkhand leaders is unacceptable."

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.