JMM rift may spoil BJP hopes in Jharkhand

The voice of rebellion has now begun getting louder in the JMM camp over the acceptance of the BJP as the leader of new alliance.

“The BJP has already divorced the JMM and hence we would not abide by the directives of Hemant Soren. We were part of the UPA and we should remain with our natural allies. Hemant’s only qualification is that he is the son of Chief Minister Shibu Soren,” said JMM legislator Simon Marandi.

His outburst came after JMM legislature party leader Hemant Soren on Thursday  evening announced unconditional support to the BJP to form an alternative government.
A letter of support from Hemant Soren on Friday led the BJP to explore the possibility of forming a government replacing the current one headed by JMM leader Shibu Soren .

Subsequently, the BJP’s Parliamentary Board meeting here decided to withhold its move to withdraw support to the Shibu Soren government after the receipt of the letter from Soren’s son. BJP state president Raghubar Das left for New Delhi on Friday.

Former chief minister Arjun Munda and ex-Union finance minister Yashwant Sinha are being seen as the front-runners for the post of chief minister, according to party sources.

New dispensation

The state BJP leaders and JMM leaders will reach New Delhi on Saturday to explore the possibilities of a new dispensation, according to deputy leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde.

Munde said a solution to the current crisis would be found in the next two days.
Sinha, when contacted by Deccan Herald, denied that he was inclined to go to Jharkhand. “These are media speculations. I am not interested (in the post),” he said.

However, not ready to accept the BJP as the leader of the alliance, another JMM legislator Teklal Mahto openly said: “We have the support of as many as eight legislators who are opposed to any alliance with the BJP and our strength will soon swell further as we are in touch with other disgruntled legislators.”

Marandi and Mahto are among the prominent JMM MLAs who are keeeping a distance from party president Shibu Soren after they were denied ministerial berth in the government. Others in this group are Nalin Soren, Champai Soren, Lobin Hembrom and Bidyut Baran Mahato. They held a separate meeting recently.

Meanwhile, buoying down to pressure from party rebels, Soren dropped his proposed visit to New Delhi for talks with the BJP leadership.

However, JMM organisational secretary Supriyo Bhattachaya clarified that the party has not received any invitation from the BJP headquarters.

In yet another development, Independent legislator Bandhu Tirkey, who had lent unconditional support to the Soren government in December last, on Friday afternoon withdrew his support to the government.