Ranchi, July 5: Losing all hope of forming an alternative government in the state, the JMM is now gearing up to face fresh Assembly elections.

An ally of the Congress, the JMM loaded ammo against the Centre to fight the “deteriorating law and order, insensitive government machinery” in Jharkhand, which has been under President’s rule since January 19.

“So what if the Congress did not agree to form the government under the JMM’s leadership? We are ready for the Assembly elections,” declared party central organising secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya after the conclusion of the JMM’s central committee meeting presided over by Shibu Soren today.

The JMM further demanded that the Centre should declare the state as drought-hit and begin relief operations. Other demands include coverage of farmers under crop insurance schemes, making provisions for free seeds and fertilisers and revival of Soren’s plan to supply 35kg of foodgrain (20kg rice and 15kg wheat) free of cost to the poor.

The party also asked the Centre to tone up the implementation of schemes under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, old-age pensions and Sidho-Kanhu housing schemes.

It has decided to launch an agitation from July 10 to July 16 to mount pressure on the Centre and the state administration to fulfil its demands. Besides, it will stage a dharna across the state from July 21 to July 24 against the deteriorating law and order situation.

The party will send a delegation to the Election Commission to lodge a complaint against polling officials for denying voting rights to many from the deprived sections on frivolous grounds.

Meanwhile, dubbing the police operation in Lalgarh in West Midnapore district of Bengal, a “plan to kill innocent tribals and natives,” the party constituted a panel, headed by Champai Soren, to visit the troubled zone to chalk out a plan of action against police atrocities on the residents.

The move is aimed at showing solidarity with the natives across the border to keep the tribal vote bank back home intact. It also vowed to mobilise masses against the Left front government and formed a committee to lead the agitation in West Midnapore. “CPM pretends to be the messiah of the poor, but innocent tribals are being harassed in Bengal,” Shibu Soren said.

Echoing Soren, Bhattacharya said that paramilitary forces were restoring the supremacy of the CPM’s “goonda vahini” (goon brigade).