Daughter-in-law Sita may vacate Jama seat for Soren


Not will she or won't she but hasn't she

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi

NATION | Friday, April 9, 2010

The Chief Minister’s residence was abuzz with report of the probability of the resignation of Sita Soren from the Jama Assembly constituency in a couple of days to provide a safe seat to her father-in-law and Chief Minister Shibu Soren to contest from.

Though Sita Soren, widow of Durga Soren, refused to give a direct answer, reliable sources in the JMM said that she has been convinced to tender her resignation for the interest of the party and the Government.

“I am yet to decide. I am yet to see the things…no comment over when, why and how of the resignation,” Sita told to The Pioneer.

But JMM insiders confided that the constituency drama would finally end with a happy note. “She could possibly hand over her resignation letter to the Chief Minister late on Thursday night or day after to pave way for Shibu Soren to contest from Jama,” JMM leader Supriyo Bhattacharya said.

Bhattacharya, nevertheless, refused to disclose whether Sita would be suitably rewarded for her good gesture — resignation which she had refused despite mounting pressure within the Soren family.

“It is up to Guruji (Shibu Soren) to decide the things,” he said.

Sources close to Sita said under the negotiations Sita wanted an honourable deal for her. “There is nothing specific. But when she has decided to stay in politics and now under pressure to relinquish Jama for the larger interest of the party and the government, the reward must be proportionate to that,” said a close associate of late Durga Soren, husband of Sita.

A peeved Sita on March 28 had announced to resign from Jama, obliquely hinting that she was under tremendous pressure within the family to vacate the seat. That day Hemant Soren, the younger son of Shibu Soren, had made a smart move and announced his willingness to quit the Dumka Assembly constituency if the controversy over constituency continued.

But by then the feud within the Soren family had landed in the public domain.