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JMM unable to decide on ties with NDA

One independent legislator made it clear that while he supported Soren's candidature for chief ministership, he would not do so if the latter took the support of the Rashtriya Janata Dal of Laloo Prasad Yadav.

In another development, the two-day meeting of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha over the future of its ties with the National Democratic Alliance on the issue of chief ministership failed to arrive at any decision on Thursday.

JMM chief Shibu Soren was keeping all options open to get the top post in Jharkhand. Apparently, Soren was not inclined to walk out of the NDA as he was hopeful of a patch up on the issue.

He is in constant touch with the RJD to explore alternative political equations for government formation.

After a meeting with the legislators of the party in Patna, Soren told newspersons that it was unfortunate that the Bharatiya Janata Party was issuing contradictory statements on the issue. He alleged that the BJP was vitiating the atmosphere by creating 'unnecessary dispute' over the chief ministership.

On the prospects of another aspirant Union Minister Babu Lal Marandi (BJP), Soren said any decision on the issue would be taken by the NDA and not by the BJP.

Meanwhile, party sources said Soren had kept his options open and spoke to RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav after the meeting. The JMM was contemplating forming a new front with the help of the RJD and other like-minded parties by November 5 if the chief ministerial berth was denied to the party, the sources added.

Soren said he was prepared to part ways with the NDA to form the government in Jharkhand. The JMM leader was exasperated with the non committal stance of the NDA towards installation of the JMM government.

Soren left for Delhi on Thursday evening to meet the leaders of the NDA for a final decision over the matter.

Meanwhile, the RJD, with nine legislators from Jharkhand has begun efforts to polarise the secular forces, including the JMM, to form the next government.

It is learnt to have promised the chief ministerial post to Soren and assured him the support of the 11 legislators of the Congress, two of the Communist Party of India, one each of the CPI (ML) and MCC and the independent legislators belonging to Jharkhand.

However, the number game is in favour of the NDA even if the JMM snaps its ties with it.

In case the JMM breaks away from the NDA, the latter would be left with 40 legislators, two short of the magic number to form the government while the JMM, along with the RJD, Congress, CPI, CPI(ML), MCC and independents, would have only 34 legislators. The new combination would require at least eight legislators to form the government.

Meanwhile, independent legislator Samresh Singh on Thursday said he would strongly oppose projection of BJP Member of Parliament Karia Munda as the first chief minister of Jharkhand by the NDA.

Talking to reporters in Patna, Singh, who represents the Bokaro assembly constituency in Jharkhand, said he was ready to support any other leader of the BJP as the chief minister.

Munda and Union Minister of State for Forest and Environment Babu lal Marandi of the BJP are in the race for the top job in Jharkhand.

He clarified that he was also not opposed to Shibu Soren's candidature for the top job, but would definitely not support Soren if he tried to form his government with the support of the RJD after severing ties with the NDA.

''I am against travelling with those who had opposed creation of this state,'' said Singh, adding that the RJD had always tried to obstruct Jharkhand's formation.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS
JMM legislature party may split
BJP rejects JMM demand for chief ministership
Jharkhand: BJP to insist on CM's post

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