I will not quit, sharing power unacceptable: Shibu Soren

Talking to reporters in Bokaro, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief said: “I will not quit from the chief minister's post. The rotation of power is not acceptable to us. I will fight the assembly poll.”

However, Soren did not reveal the name of the seat from which he would fight the assembly poll. Soren, a Lok Sabha MP, has to get elected to the state assembly by June 30 to retain his chief ministership.

Soren's statement is likely to prolong the ongoing political crisis in Jharkhand.The BJP and the JMM on Tuesday agreed to share power in rotation for 28 months each. At a joint conference with BJP national general secretary Arjun Munda, Soren Tuesday announced sharing of power.

“We have agreed to share power in rotation. The BJP and JMM will each rule the state for 28 months," Soren had said. Jharkhand has been in the midst of a political crisis since Soren's decision to vote against the BJP's cut motion in the Lok Sabha last month. The move incensed the BJP and it decided to withdraw legislative support to the JMM. However, the parties have decided to continue the coalition.