By IANS,
Ranchi : The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), a key ally of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), will July 19 decide on whether or not to support the Manmohan Singh government during the trust vote in parliament, party chief Shibu Soren said Monday.
The JMM has five members in the Lok Sabha and its decision is crucial given the close numbers game that will be played out when parliament meets July 21-22 in emergency session for the vote of confidence.
Soren, who has been unhappy with the prime minister for not inducting him in the union cabinet, told reporters in Bokaro: “The party has not decided anything on the issue of the trust vote. The party will decide on the issue on July 19 after consulting the MPs.”
Admitting that the party was not happy with the government, Soren said: “The JMM has a share of one-and-a-half ministers in the central government. This way, the party should get one cabinet and one minister of state in the central ministry.”
As the trust vote July 22 draws closer, speculation is that the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was in touch with the JMM to persuade to vote against the government.
Rajnath Singh, national president of the BJP who was in the Jharkhand capital on Sunday, denied any deal but said: “The options are open for every one to talk on any issue.”
On Sunday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda flew to Bokaro to meet Soren. Both leaders met for an hour to discuss political developments in New Delhi.