By IANS,
Ranchi,: There are indications that the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are working out a formula for rotation of power to end the political stalemate in Jharkhand, according to sources in the two partes.
After their marathon talks in New Delhi Saturday failed to break the deadlock, the JMM, the BJP and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) leaders returned to Ranchi Sunday.
Hemant Soren, son of JMM chief Shibu Soren, said his father would continue as chief minister. Further talks would be held with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders about the prevailing political situation, he said.
The JMM, according to sources, is trying to work out a formula for the graceful exit of Shibu Soren.
“Several rounds of talks will take place regarding transfer of power. The BJP could be asked to lead the government from June end for six months. Nothing is clear about the sharing of power, but talks are heading towards rotating power between the JMM and the BJP in future,” a reliable source told IANS.
The BJP leaders too are weighing the option of grabbing power in Jharkhand with the JMM’s support.
“Our central leaders are concerned about the JMM’s past history. We cannot believe in the JMM, but at the same time the party wants to remain in power in Jharkhand. The JMM leaders have to create an environment to transfer power to the BJP so that the new government should not fall during a trust vote,” a BJP source said.
Hemlal Murmu, senior JMM leader and state minister, who returned from New Delhi with Hemant Soren after talks with the BJP central leaders, ruled out Shibu Soren fighting assembly elections in order to enter the assembly. Murmu told reporters: “There is no chance that Shibu Soren will fight the assembly election.”
Asked whether Shibu Soren would continue in office till June 30, the date by which he has to get elected, Murmu refused to respond.
Shibu Soren became chief minister Dec 30 last year and has to become a member of the state assembly before June 30 when the six-month constitutional deadline for unelected chief minister to become an assembly member expires.
He has yet to decide about the constituency from where to contest the assembly poll. According to JMM sources, Soren, a Lok Sabha MP, is unwilling to fight the assembly poll. The BJP reportedly wants to remove him as chief minister.
Jharkhand plunged into political crisis after Shibu Soren voted in favour of the United Progressive Alliance on the April 27 cut motion in parliament moved by the BJP. The following day, the BJP parliamentary board decided to withdraw support to his government, but has put the decision on hold.
A meeting of BJP, JMM and AJSU leaders took place in New Delhi Saturday where they are understood to have agreed to continue Shibu Soren as chief minister till they decide on their next move.