Independents the deciding factor in Jharkhand

When they fought the 2004 LS elections as Independent candidates,most of them were political non-entities. Today,however,they are a force to reckon with and individually,they have even launched their political outfits. While Enos Ekka has launched the Jharkhand Party,Bhanu Pratap Shahi has set up the Navjawan Sangharsh Morcha,and Bandhu Tirkey has floated the Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch.

After the 2005 Assembly polls,the NDA comprising the BJP and the JDU had won 36 seats in the 81-member Assembly while the UPA comprising the Congress,JMM,RJD had won 33 seats. At least 41 MLAs were required to form the government and thus,the Independents collectively became a crucial factor. They supported the UPA to form a government led by Independent MLA Madhu Koda. And eventually,all of them became ministers.

After JMM chief Shibu Soren withdrew support compelling Koda to resign,they joined the Congress and the RJD in supporting Soren and were rewarded with ministerial berths. They remained ministers till the government fell after Soren quit the CMs post on January 12. Dubbed as vote katwa,as they have effectively cut into the vote share of big parties,they have had their share of the pie whether it was during the rise of Koda or the fall of Soren. In fact,a PIL was filed in the Jharkhand HC alleging that these Independent MLAs-turned-ministers had amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income.