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Soren's son offered
deputy chief ministership

Soroor Ahmed in Patna

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader Shibhu Soren is likely to make a last-ditch patch-up attempt with the National Democratic Alliance.

Soren is likely to fly to New Delhi on Thursday evening or Friday for a final round of talks with the NDA, with whom he has virtually split over chief ministership of Jharkhand.

Soren tried to meet Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Laloo Prasad Yadav, but when he encountered a group of journalists went instead to the residence of JMM legislature party leader Stefen Marandi. When rediff.com tried to contacted him there, party workers denied that he was there.

A minister in the Rabri Devi government approached him at the hotel he is staying in, with an unspecified offer. A report suggested that he spoke to Laloo over the telephone.

Though Soren's son, Durga, had on Wednesday said that his party was prepared to sit in the Opposition, the last-minute effort to form a non-BJP government in league with the RJD only goes to show that the party is divided.

Observers feel that the JMM is merely trying to strike a better deal. The BJP has said a firm 'no' to offering chief ministership to the JMM and has instead offered deputy chief ministership to Durga.

This news will not please Marandi, whose popularity outstrips Durga's.

EARLIER REPORT:
JMM legislature party may split

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