The challenge to accommodate independents who have agreed to provide critical support stares the newly formed Congress-JMM alliance which is expected to stake claim to form the next government in Jharkhand in a day or two. Confident after RJD chief Lalu's Prasad categorical assurance and letters of support from at least four independent MLAs, JMM's Chief Minister designate Hemant Soren left for Ranchi on Saturday.
Soren, who is tipped to be the Chief Minister in the new ruling dispensation in the tribal state, has already got letters of support from independent MLAs Harinarayan Rai, Bandhu Tirkey, Chamra Linda and Bidesh Singh, sources in JMM said. Other two independent MLAs are Gita Koda, wife of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda who is in jail on graft charges, and Enos Ekka.
A section in Congress has been wary of forming a government in the state with the support of independents with a clear view that they should not be taken as ministers in the new government, a stand which the JMM also did not contradict earlier. However, the challenge persists with independents now seeking share in the power, even as they vouch their support for the new government.
JMM has 18 members, Congress 13 and RJD 05 MLAs in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly. With their number coming to 36 together they need the support of five more MLAs to form a government with simple majority in the state. Talking to PTI, Tirkey said that while he welcomes the formation of government headed by Soren and has already given letter of support to him, "independents should also get representation in the ministry."
"We have always supported formation of a government in state. I and three independent MLAs also gave letters of support to Soren. Though I am not the leader of the Independents, I am suggesting Soren should also talk to other independent MLAS Gita Koda and Enos Ekka. "Independents are in favour of government formation but their honour should also be kept in mind. Only then a stable government can be in place," Tirkey said. Tirkey is stated to be close to RJD chief Lalu Prasad and he could possibly play a role in settling these issues.
Sources said hours after Congress and JMM inked agreement yesterday to form an alternative government in Jharkhand, Prasad assured JMM leader Hemant Soren that his party is fully behind him and will extend all possible support to form a government there. The lone MLA from Marxist Coordination Committee Arup Chatterjee is also unlikely to vote against the Trust Vote. With four MLAs already having submitted letters of support, they are short of one MLA, which the JMM is confident of getting anytime they require.
Since Congress is participating in the government, there is a view that JD(U) may also support it from outside on the plank of secularism despite RJD participating in government or at least they will abstain, which will also eventually help the Congress-JMM alliance in the number game. JD(U) has two MLAs Raja Peter, who had defeated JMM chief Shibu Soren from Tamad assembly constituency, and Sudha Chowdhary, who is wife of Bihar Assembly Speaker and JD(U) leader Uday Narayan Chowdhary.
The lone MLA from CPI(ML) Vinod Singh has been a strong critic of parties trying to cobble up a majority so it remains to be seen what stands he takes but Singh can hardly afford to be seen siding with the BJP, which will vote against Trust Vote. Congress, which announced its alliance with JMM for the next Lok Sabha polls and agreed to participate in a coalition government with JMM in the state, has left it to Soren to muster the numbers.
Asked how can Congress ally with both JD(U) and RJD, which are archrivals in Bihar, a senior party leader said, "it's a government led by JMM and what parties support the government is a matter between them." President's rule was imposed in Jharkhand on January 18 after Jharkhand Mukti Morcha pulled out of the BJP-led coalition on January 8.
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