Jharkhand diary

Munda reflects on perils of coalitions
Ranchi: Former chief minister Arjun Munda, who has headed three coalitions in Jharkhand, said policymaking is hindered if there is no majority. “Policymaking gets delayed,” Munda conceded at a press conference. “Such situations are a loss to the state.” Munda, leader of the opposition, is in the BJP, which is looking for a majority. He attacked the ruling JMM, which currently heads a coalition. Reminding it of the “issues” over which the JMM had pulled out of a Munda-led coalition, he asked where those issues are now.

Rajnath time-frame for miner issues
Dhanbad: Steps will be taken to resolve the longstanding issues of miners at Bhuli, Asia’s largest labour colony, if the BJP is voted to power in Jharkhand, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said. Addressing an election rally there, Rajnath said the coal minister would visit Dhanbad along with local MPs and MLAs to resolve miners’ issues within six months of forming a BJP government. Bhuli is part of Dhanbad, voting Sunday. Imparting skill training to the youth is one of the aims of the central government, Rajnath said.

Marxist killed in clash with BJP
Dhanbad: A supporter of Marxist Coordination Committee, a political party based in Dhanbad, was killed in a clash with BJP workers in Nirsa constituency. MCC workers were taking out a poll procession but BJP supporters tried to stop them in a village, leading to the clash, police said. Machan Ravi Das, 50, died of head and internal injuries. Nirsa is represented by Arup Chatterjee of MCC.
PTI