Soren likely to quit before trust motion

May 29, 2010

Soren likely to quit before trust motion

Claims to have obtained signature of party MLAs to support BJP

Vijay Deo Jha

Ranchi

This goes with stated warning: Prediction in Jharkhand politics is fool’s enterprise. You could be right, or you could be horrendously wrong. Look at Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

But then, JMM insiders beamed high hope that Chief Minister Shibu Soren might step down on Sunday before facing trust motion on Monday to facilitate transfer of power to the BJP.

“Though, it is very difficult to make prediction about the move of the JMM and Soren, but, indications of his likely resignation as CM are in the air, a senior JMM leader quoted.

JMM insiders claimed that the number of pro-BJP MLAs in the JMM has markedly improved as around 17 MLAs have already signed the support letter in the favour of the BJP. Sources revealed that senior JMM leader Mathura Mahato has been asked to collect the signature of jailed party MLA from Torpa; Polush Surin who has, so far, refused to support a BJP led government.

JMM seems to have gradually inching towards comfort zone after its vocal dissidents opposing a BJP led government—Simon Marandi, Teklal Mahato and others finally landed their lungs to rest and signed the support letter. Nalin Soren lastly appended his signature on Friday after a whole battery of JMM leaders headed by Soren air-dashed to Dumka to attend his family party.

Meanwhile JMM chief and Chief Minister Shibu Soren held a crucial meeting with the party MLAs and functionaries on Saturday evening to reach to consensus whether to stay with the BJP or to negotiate with the Congress.

Another dissident voice and Soren’s daughter-in-law specially arrived from Kolkata to attend the meeting. Sources close to her affirmed that Sita has finally departed from her anti-BJP stand which was largely motivated by her family feud with CM’s MLA son Hemant Soren.

“It is going to be very crucial meeting of the party. We have shown our unity as we are 25 MLA including our alliance partner AJSU and other sympathizers. JMM will tie-up with the party that will help us during floor testing,” JMM MLA Champai Soren said.

A section of the JMM pioneered by Hemant Soren still advocates a patch-up with the BJP and does not see any immediate benefit in joining hands with the Congress that curtly asked Soren to resign first before entering into negotiation for the government formation with the help of JVM and others.

AJSU that worked hard to stop further fissure between the BJP and the JMM was the part of Saturday meeting after Deputy Chief Minister and AJSU chief Sudesh Mahato along with his party colleague and minister Chandra Prakash Chaudhary attended the meeting.

BJP had withdrawn support from the coalition government on May 24 — a day before the deadline; for Soren to resign, after he refused to resign as CM as part of agreement reached among alliance partner: BJP, JMM, AJSU and JD (U) on May 18.

BJP reacted cautiously over the development saying nothing substantial about this JMM meeting, probably final round will be held on Sunday afternoon.

And if they at all are, it is merely to say that they have nothing to say not even whether it is a wise decision taken very late.

“What a pity you have taken the trouble to come all the way here,” kidded one senior central BJP leader, offering a hello on the phone line, no more.

When asked about the stand of the party in wake of probability of the resignation of Soren and whether her party will dim it fit to consider the proposal of the JMM to form a government headed by BJP CM; state BJP in-charge and party’s national vice president Karuna Shukla aired a detached looked, often diplomatic.

“He is resigning…very good, let him do. I am not in the position to tell you the next.”

In another development Soren finally forwarded resignation letters his five ministerial colleagues of the NDA to the Governor MOH Farook for acceptance, on Saturday. After Soren delayed in forwarding resignation letter gave media and Congress enough reference point to guess that JMM has still not severed its tie with the BJP might renew its alliance after some verbal spat. Both the parties refused to accuse each other and BJP had the only target to kick for the whole mess: Congress.

If Soren resigns and offers to lend support to the BJP to form government it will be yet another tough task for the central BJP to reach to a consensus after it ruled out to join hands with the JMM once again.
But then, a senior BJP leader had a different view said that the party might not have to eat its word. “BJP had asked Soren to resign first, and, if he resigns accordingly before the floor test then I find nothing wrong to form a government led by BJP and supported by the JMM,” the leader said.

It might not be the end of the game, those who know Soren will tell you.