By Nityanand Shukla, IANS,
Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren’s vote against the cut motion in the Lok Sabha, even at the peril of putting his coalition government in danger, could be a calculated move to stay in power in the state and boost his son’s fortunes, political observers say.
The wily politician voted against the opposition sponsored motion and it led to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pulling out of the coalition government in the state.
According to sources, Soren may have struck a deal with the Congress. As per the plan, Soren might get a berth in the Manmohan Singh cabinet and son Hemant Soren the deputy chief minister’s post.
“Soren wanted to test the mood of the BJP by voting against the cut motion. He wanted to send the message that his options were open and he had Congress backing,” said a senior JMM leader.
The BJP responded by announcing withdrawal of support in New Delhi with general secretary Ananth Kumar saying the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief had “behaved in a dubious manner and voted against the cut motion”.
He said the BJP parliamentary board has taken a “very serious note” of Soren’s “betrayal” Tuesday.
The BJP’s tough stance has not deterred the party, a JMM leader told IANS.
Buoying the JMM’s hopes were state Congress general secretary and Jharkhand in-charge Keshav Rao’s statement in New Delhi that Soren was a “secular” leader who may have been “uncomfortable” with the BJP in the state
However, Rao said the party had not given thought to supporting Soren in Jharkhand. “The party high command will take a decision in this regard,” Rao told reporters.
Rao also said that there was no blackmailing to persuade Soren to vote in favour of the government.
The JMM government was propped up by 18 BJP members, five All Jharkhand Students Union legislators and two independents in the 82-member assembly. The JMM has 18 legislators.
The Congress has 14 legislators, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) 11 and the Rashtriya Janata Dal five members. The rest are independents or belong to smaller parties.
Soren, who became chief minister for the third time Dec 30, is a Lok Sabha MP and needs to become a member of the legislative assembly by June 30.
There were reports that the BJP was pushing Soren to fight the assembly poll as it was against any transfer of power to his son Hemant.
The veteran politician is known to switch loyalties at the drop of the proverbial hat to grab and retain power.
In July 2008, he supported Manmohan Singh government over the India-US civil nuclear deal and later came to power in Jharkhand with Congress support.
Even though still part of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, he joined hands with the BJP in December 2009 to form a coalition government in the state.
Family interests also seem to be a major factor in Soren’s plans.
In 2005, he nominated Hemant from Dumka assembly seat, represented by veteran JMM leader Stephen Marandi, who later quit the party in protest.