Sanjay Singh. Agencies
New Delhi. Ranchi: Political history was made in Jharkhand on Thursday when a 35-year-old independent candidate, also a relative new comer, staked claim to form the next government after the Arjun Munda-led NDA government fell.
When Madhu Koda emerged as the compromise candidate of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), it marked a first in the Indian political history. Never before have an independent legislator, that too a first-timer to the Assembly, been made the chief minister of a state.
Jharkhand’s new chief minister is no stranger to the state’s politics having been minister in both the Arjun Munda government and before that in Babulal Marandi’s cabinet.
He started off with the All-Jharkhand Students Union, was associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and first became legislator in 2000 on a BJP ticket.
Koda crossed over and contested as an independent in 2005 in pique when he was denied a BJP ticket.
After that, he supported the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the numbers game that made Arjun Munda chief minister last March, was made minister but then abruptly withdrew support on September 5 bringing on the present crisis.
Now, he is set to be chief minister of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.
Koda did his graduation 12 years after he did his matriculation. But he seems to have learnt the tricks of real polity faster. From a nondescript independent candidate running for assembly elections only a year-and-half ago, Koda is today chief minister designate of the mineral rich Jharkhand, where businessmen, including steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, are eyeing investment opportunities.
He represents Jaganathpur, a backward tribal constituency. He is said to have a penchant for the good living. He owned a Bolero and a Tata Indigo car when he filed his affidavit for the previous elections.
So, why did Koda initiate the process to oust Munda?
According to sources, Koda, who was the mines minister, wanted to give a mining lease to a particular company and Munda was obstructing it. Seizing his chance, Koda made construction of road in his constituency an issue to pull down the government.
