Yet again triggering a political turmoil in tribal dominated Jharkhand, Chief Minister Shibu Soren on Thursday lost a must-win assembly by-election, prompting the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to demand his resignation and fresh assembly polls.
Soren a candidate of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) lost the Tamar constituency by-election to Raja Peter of the Jharkhand Party a constituent of the ruling coalition that had rebelled against the veteran politician.
Peter won the electoral battle with a comfortable margin of 9,062 votes.
Soren, not a member of the of the legislative assembly, took over as Chief Minister on August 27 last year, his appointment required him to be elected to he House within six months of assuming office.
Soren, a former central minister, is yet to comment on the outcome, but an understandably delighted Peter, who secured 34,186 votes, said his victory belonged to the people of Tamar, where he has worked for last 10 years.
With the debacle coming months before the General Elections the BJP has sensed opportunity and was prompt to issue the demand for Soren's resignation and urged that president's rule be invoked in the state.
"The only option left is imposing president's rule. Then elections should be conducted to seek people's mandate. People of Jharkhand now do not want an experiment," said Arjun Munda, former Chief Minister and BJP leader.
BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy speaking to the media in Lucknow said: "Not only Soren but his allies the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal are also defeated."
The state has seen a long period of political instability and now there should be fresh elections, he said.
Sources in the state's ruling alliance say, central UPA leaders have summoned Soren and former Chief Minister Madhu Koda to Delhi to discuss the emerging scenario.
The central alliance leadership is likely to ask Soren to resign and support the new UPA government to be formed under Koda.
Jharkhand Party President and former Rural Development Minister Enos Ekka had fielded Peter going against the wishes of the state UPA leaders, who fielded Soren as their candidate.
With Ekka digging in his feet over the matter, Soren sacked him and Harinarayan Rai, citing a corruption case filed against them by the vigilance department.
The polling took place on January 5 amid tight security.
The Tamar seat had fallen vacant after former Minister and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Ramesh Singh Munda was killed by Maoists last July.
Soren a candidate of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) lost the Tamar constituency by-election to Raja Peter of the Jharkhand Party a constituent of the ruling coalition that had rebelled against the veteran politician.
Peter won the electoral battle with a comfortable margin of 9,062 votes.
Soren, not a member of the of the legislative assembly, took over as Chief Minister on August 27 last year, his appointment required him to be elected to he House within six months of assuming office.
Soren, a former central minister, is yet to comment on the outcome, but an understandably delighted Peter, who secured 34,186 votes, said his victory belonged to the people of Tamar, where he has worked for last 10 years.
With the debacle coming months before the General Elections the BJP has sensed opportunity and was prompt to issue the demand for Soren's resignation and urged that president's rule be invoked in the state.
"The only option left is imposing president's rule. Then elections should be conducted to seek people's mandate. People of Jharkhand now do not want an experiment," said Arjun Munda, former Chief Minister and BJP leader.
BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy speaking to the media in Lucknow said: "Not only Soren but his allies the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal are also defeated."
The state has seen a long period of political instability and now there should be fresh elections, he said.
Sources in the state's ruling alliance say, central UPA leaders have summoned Soren and former Chief Minister Madhu Koda to Delhi to discuss the emerging scenario.
The central alliance leadership is likely to ask Soren to resign and support the new UPA government to be formed under Koda.
Jharkhand Party President and former Rural Development Minister Enos Ekka had fielded Peter going against the wishes of the state UPA leaders, who fielded Soren as their candidate.
With Ekka digging in his feet over the matter, Soren sacked him and Harinarayan Rai, citing a corruption case filed against them by the vigilance department.
The polling took place on January 5 amid tight security.
The Tamar seat had fallen vacant after former Minister and Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Ramesh Singh Munda was killed by Maoists last July.
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