Eye on CM's seat, JMM threatens to withdraw support to Koda Govt

Vijay Deo Jha Ranchi Monday, August 11, 2008

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha led by Shibu Soren is in the mood of playing the game of political brinkmanship to exert pressure on the UPA to get CM post as well as ministerial berths at the Center.

The party is learnt to have threatened to withdraw supports from the Madhu Koda Government. The move is taken as a pressure tactics by the JMM. Sources close to Soren said the party might take some final decision, whether to stay with the Koda Government or to withdraw support. The party might hold a meeting to take a decision by the end of Wednesday.

Once after rejecting the open invitation of the NDA, Soren is slated to be in touch with the top Central leaders of the BJP. Well-placed sources said that the former had met with the top leaders of the BJP. It is despite the fact that all JMM MLAs sang in tune with the party line supporting Soren for the post, unanimity still seems to elude since a faction led by the deputy CM Sudhir Mahto might prove a stumbling block if the party indeed goes on to such an extent.

Sources said that a number of party MLAs were not favouring the idea of regime change which includes JMM MLAs holding portfolio. "No one wants to face elections at this point of time," said a JMM MLA. Meanwhile, Koda, who is New Delhi to attend the marriage ceremony of the daughter of the senior NCP leader Tariq Anwar, is slated to have met Soren. It is learnt that Koda would meet the top leaders of the Congress, including Ahmed Patel, to apprise him of the current stand off.

Meanwhile, Stephen Marandi is slated to have held a chain of meeting with the group of independent MLAs, including Chief Minister Madhu Koda, Bhanu Pratap Shahi, Enos Ekka. Notably Pradeep Balmucchu, president, State Congress was also slated to be present when Marandi was negotiating with Shahi. Marandi has asked the independent MLAs to clear their stand on the issue of support.