Trust vote: Special session on May 31

Vijay Deo Jha | Ranchi | Friday, May 28, 2010

Chief Minister Shibu Soren held a special meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday and decided to seek trust vote on May 31. Briefing the media, Cabinet Secretary Aditya Swaroop said that the Cabinet requested Governor MOH Farook to convene the special session of the Assembly at Sri Krishna Institute of Public Administration (SKIPA).

The State Government opted SKIPA to hold the session since as the building of State Assembly is under renovation. Meanwhile, Congress president Sonia Gandhi summoned senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandis, AICC incharge K Keshav Rao, State Congress president Pradeep Balmuchu, CLP leader Rajinder Singh and a few others on Thursday in New Delhi to know about political impasse in Jharkhand. “Party will prefer ‘wait and watch’ till May 31. We will tell later on,” Congress leader Sailesh Sinha said.

Credible sources in the Congress said that Rao, who is also in-charge of the state Congress, is expected to visit Ranchi Friday to for a backroom negotiation with the JMM and Congress' ally Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) to explore some points of agreements.

"Madam (Sonia)" source said, "largely discussed upcoming elections of two Rajya Sabha seats in Jharkhand…it is also a critical part other than government formation. Now JVM has sought one seat from the Congress. We are looking for some way," sources in the Congress said.

Sonia Gandhi has an overall view that Congress should initiate Government formation exercise only after the JMM finally announces its divorce with the BJP apart from the fact that JVM must be taken into confidence, a senior party leader said.

Rao maintained Sonia's line during his talk with the media in New Delhi; portraying brighter prospect of the formation of the UPA Government with the help of the JMM. He reaffirmed: "The JVM is an ally of the Congress. We are keen to form a secular Government."

The Congress tactically employed Furkan Ansari to send this message to Soren saying that Soren should resign first and cross-over to the UPA to establish his secular credential for the Government formation. Balmuchu maintained same line stating "unless a government falls, a fresh government can not be formed."

Coming three days will be crucial for the party to gauge the mood of Soren over Government formation and the Rajya Sabha election. It is not that of Hemant whom the Congress accuses even today for hobnobbing with the BJP and Arjun Munda for political realignment. If that is true then Congress might advise Soren to step-down before floor test and sit across the table for fresh negotiation over government formation. Congress planning to grab both the seats of the Rajya Sabha may ask Soren to support Congress-JVM candidates during elections promising enough ministerial berths in the proposed UPA Government.

All it depends upon how JMM reacts over such proposals. Soren's son and leader of the JMM Legislative Body Hemant Soren refused to disclose his plans to save the government. "We command magic number," tapping fingers both the sides - NDA and UPA, Hemant refused to disclose how will he conjure the magic number.

His party colleague and HRD Minister Hemlal Murmu was little bit unambiguous in telling so. "We are serious to form the government…talks are underway. We do not want President's Rule and mid-term election. But, please note without JMM none can form the Government and can even win Rajya Sabha seats."

Among those few who command JMM, Soren is probably last man who either does not know about 'what next' or feigns ignorance as seasoned politician. "Kya bole? Kuch bolne ke liye hai kya? (What to speak? Is there anything left speak?)" Soren muted, scratched his head and left out the CMO after the cabinet meeting.