By IANS,
Ranchi : While Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren is reportedly in touch with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders in New Delhi over the July 22 trust vote in parliament, the rest of his party, which has five Lok Sabha seats, is not in favour of siding with the opposition.
The JMM remains a part of the ruling United Progressive Alliance at the centre, though Soren had to resign from his minister’s post after being convicted in a criminal case.
Teklal Mahto, a JMM Lok Sabha MP from Giridih district, told reporters here Friday: “There is no question of having an alliance with the NDA. I will vote in favour of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) irrespective of whatever decision my party takes.”
Echoing his view, Jharkhand Deputy Chief Minister and JMM legislator Sudhir Mahto said: “There is no possibility of an alliance with the NDA. It is just a speculation that the JMM is cementing an alliance with the NDA. The rumours are being floated to tarnish the image of the party.”
The JMM has five Lok Sabha MPs and 17 legislators in Jharkhand.
There are reports that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has offered to topple the Madhu Koda government in Jharkhand and offer the chief minister’s post to Shibu Soren in return for his party voting against the UPA government. The JMM, which supports the Madhu Koda government, has three ministers in the state.
The JMM is holding a crucial meeting on Saturday in New Delhi to decide whether to support the UPA government during the trust vote.