Jharkhand: JMM leaders exploring options for new govt

In the wake of a political turmoil created after the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) withdrew its support from the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state, the JMM leaders met the state governor to explore scenarios for forming a new government. JMM leader Hemant Soren said he has asked the governor for time to negotiate with other parties in the state.

"There are still chances to form a government. We requested the governor to consider the scenarios of a new government coming to power. We have requested for more time to establish the numbers," Hemant said.

The JMM and the Congress leaders also met on Saturday to kick off negotiations to form a new government. Soon after their meeting, state Congress leaders arrived at the governor's house for similar discussions. JMM chief Shibu Soren withdrew the support from the government on January 7, after the BJP refused to remove Arjun Munda as Jharkhand chief minister.

Soren had threatened the BJP earlier that his party would walk out of the alliance if the chief minister's post was not handed over to the JMM as part of the deal under which the two parties had agreed to share it for 28 months each. But the BJP maintained no such agreement had been worked out between the two parties and stood firmly behind Munda, whose 28-month tenure ended on January 10.

Both the BJP and the JMM have 18 MLAs each in the 81-member Jharkhand Assembly and after Soren's decision, the Munda government faces minority. Munda had, on January 3, said he had, in writing, rejected JMM's claim that there was a power sharing deal between the two parties and that the latter has to take a decision keeping stability of the government in mind. "The issue (power sharing deal) which they (JMM) have raised had not been placed (during formation of government)," Munda said in Ranchi without naming Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

"I have given pointwise replies to the issues raised through a letter by the ally (JMM) and given to me by the party's legislative leader (Hemant Soren). And I believe they will discuss it, keeping the coalition's effort in providing a stable government for the last two years and will continue in the future too," he said.

On December 25 2012, Soren had submitted a list of certain issues to the chief minister, including clearing Munda's stand on the purported rotational power sharing for 28 months each. Asked whether state's image was tarnished by political instability, Munda said any decision on the future of the alliance should be taken keeping Jharkhand's image in mind.