By IANS,
Ranchi : Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren is facing intense lobbying by United Progressive Alliance partners for the chairpersons’ posts of various boards and corporations in the state, official sources said.
Soren became chief minister of Jharkhand after supporting the Manmohan Singh government in a crucial trust vote July 22.
According to sources in the government, both the Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have submitted a list of boards and corporations whose chairmanships they want for their respective legislators.
In the 82-member house, Soren enjoys support of 44 legislators, of which nine belong to the Congress and seven to the RJD.
The Congress submitted a list containing names of legislators with the boards for each mentioned. The RJD has also submitted its list, a source told IANS.
To put pressure on Soren, six of the nine Congress legislators boycotted the monsoon session of assembly for two days.
Soren met the Congress leaders and assured them that he would fulfil their demand.
There are a total of 32 board and corporations, whose chairperson get to use vehicles with beacon lights and other facilities. They have financial powers.
Of the 32 board and corporations, 16 may go to the Congress and RJD.
Even JMM legislators have stepped up their efforts for the posts. Three JMM legislators met Soren Friday and made a similar request.
JMM has 17 legislators in the state, of whom three are ministers in the Soren government.
“We have requested Guruji (Shibu Soren) for the board and corporation posts. It is the prerogative of our leader to decide,” said Salkhan Soren, a JMM legislator.
The eight ministers who are either independent legislators or belong to smaller parties have also stepped up efforts to get a plum post for their associates.
Madhu Koda, former chief minister, did not make any changes in the board and corporation during his 23-months rule.