Yashwant plays rebel again, slams BJP

In an interview to Zee News, Sinha accused the Arjun Munda government of corruption and extravagance and complained that the Chief Minister had not bothered to even acknowledge his letters though he was an MP from the state.

‘‘I have raised the issue of corruption because party workers who come to me have complained of corruption at the local level. Ordinary people are being troubled. There is need to put a stop to this,’’ Sinha said.

Accusing the government of extravagance, Sinha said, ‘‘When everybody in the government travels in Ambassadors, the Jharkhand government took the decision to buy Ford Endeavour, which is an expensive car, for all its ministers. Money has also been spent on things like ACs. On the other hand, the condition of the people is so bad. They do not even get electricity.’’

Reacting to Sinha’s charge, Arjun Munda sought to know whether Sinha was speaking in his capacity as BJP spokesman, Jharkhand MP or as an individual.

‘‘I would have liked to discuss the issue within the party,’’ said the Chief Minister who belongs to Sinha’s rival camp in the state.

Denying the charge of malgovernance, Munda said: ‘‘Just because six letters were not replied to does not mean that there is nothing like governance in the state.’’

Sinha created a flutter two weeks ago by openly coming out against Advani’s remarks on Jinnah and suggesting that Advani step down as Leader of Opposition as well.

With Advani withdrawing his resignation and the BJP seeking to put a lid on the Jinnah debate, party leaders decided to overlook Sinha’s ‘‘indiscretion.’’

But today’s outburst, BJP sources said, indicates ‘‘a pattern of deliberate dissidence’’ which could invite action.

In Ranchi, Munda too is finding it difficult to contain dissidence within the party. Other than Sinha, Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Maroo and former Lok Sabha MP

Ramtahal Choudhary have confronted the Chief Minister. In a letter to Munda, Choudhary complained that corruption was ‘‘eating into the vitals of the government’’ and had ‘‘crossed all limits’’.

‘‘For the construction of roads, culverts and bridges Rs 600 crore is required. But the government released less than Rs 100 crore with the result that all these projects are lying incomplete. It is feared that these might get washed away in the coming rains,’’ Choudhary said.

His colleague Maroo claimed Munda had ‘‘established a firm grip on the party in which workers like me are not welcome… neither the party nor the government cares for us.’’

‘‘When I wrote a letter to the PMO on June 9, I received the reply on June 16. But my experience with the CM’s office is quite different. In the past I had written a number of letters to the CMO on the problems of the people. But I am yet to get one reply. This shows how this government is working,’’ Maroo said.