Cong hinders BJP's run for power

Our motive is to prevent saffron party from forming govt in Jharkhand

Congress sources confirmed that efforts were on to prevent the BJP, which is the junior partner of Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) in the Jharkhand coalition government, from forming a government in the state.

“Around 10 JMM legislators are opposed to supporting a BJP-led government in the state. We have asked the JMM to dissociate itself from the BJP, after which the Congress will take the initiative for forming an alternative government,” a Congress leader said.

Tit for tat
The Congress leader, preferring anonymity, said: “As the BJP prevented us from forming government after the assembly poll last year, now our motive is to prevent the BJP from coming to power in Jharkhand.”

“The Congress will act after May 25 — the deadline set by the BJP for Soren to quit from chief minister’s post. If the BJP decides to withdraw support, the Congress will spring into action to end the crisis,” he said.
The Congress party’s Jharkhand unit chief Pradeep Balmuchu is in New Delhi. According to sources, he is dealing on behalf of the party with JMM rebel legislators who are also in New Delhi.

Six JMM rebel legislators, including Teklal Mahto, Lobin Hembrom and others, are in New Delhi to hold talks with Congress leaders on government formation.Soren, who was at his Bokaro home for the past four days, left for Ranchi on Sunday evening.
On Sunday he said he had an offer from New Delhi. He did not clarify what kind of offer or from whom. It is understood that the Congress has offered Soren a cabinet berth in the central government.

Jharkhand has been in the midst of a political crisis since Soren voted against the BJP’s cut motions in the Lok Sabha last month. This led the BJP to announce withdrawal of its support to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Negotiations
After several days of intense negotiations, the BJP said it would continue to ally with the JMM if the latter helped it to form a government in the state.
However, the accord was reached after days of haggling between the JMM and the BJP, Soren surprised the BJP by announcing that he would not step down as the state’s chief minister.
Agencies