JD-U out in flab cut but Munda not worried

And believe it or not, the downsizing of the ministry — from 24 to 12 ministers — has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Chief Minister.

None of his government’s 11 ministers (eight from the BJP, two from the United Goa Democratic Party and an Independent) is a ‘‘tainted’’ figure. And, six ministers of the JD(U) — Lalchand Mahato, Baccha Singh, Ramesh Munda, Ram Chandra Kesri, Jaleshwar Mahato and Baidhnath Ram — who were known as the ministry’s ‘‘boorish’’ face are out.

The JD(U) ministers were dropped after George Fernandes and Sharad Yadav decided to lend support to the Munda government from outside. ‘‘This has achieved the desired course correction for the party’s health in the state,’’ JD(U) state unit president Gautam Sagar Rana said.

Among the ex-ministers, Singh was a history-sheeter-turned-politician, accused in more than a dozen cases of looting, abduction, ransom and murder. Lalchand and his party colleague Madhu Singh, who was sacked by Munda last week, were embroiled in a controversy for allegedly receiving bribes of Rs 50 lakh each from New Delhi-based industrialist M.M. Agrawal to nominate him as a candidate for the Rajya Sabha. Again, Lalchand and Madhu Singh were behind the JD(U) locking horns with the BJP in the LS elections. As a result, all five JD(U) candidates lost, the BJP tally fell.

The ministers also ganged up against former CM Babulal Marandi and forced him to quit last year when he refused to given them Cabinet rank and dismiss Jharkhand SEB Chairman Rajiv Ranjan. Munda followed Marandi and gave in to their demands. The odd man out is Kesri who gained the image of a performing minister.

Munda met the JD(U) leaders the night before the downsizing and offered three slots but the party’s top brass decided not to accept the offer as selection of three leaders would have led to resentment among the remaining three.

There is still some resentment, though. ‘‘When ministers are out, why is the Speaker occupying the seat of power. Even he should quit,’’ former minister Ram said. ‘‘When corrupt leaders like Madhu Singh was suspended by the party, why was it sidelining an honest leader like me? It has sent a wrong signal among the masses,’’ Kesri said.