JMM, BJP set to form government in Jharkhand

Ranchi: A coalition seems to be in place in Jharkhand after two days of political uncertainty as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Friday announced it will form the next government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Hemlal Murmu, a senior JMM leader and legislator, said: "We will form the next government in Jharkhand with BJP."

Efforts to cobble up a coalition in the state had been stuck as the JMM refused to accept anything less than the chief minister's post for its chief Shibhu Soren.

Assembly polls result on December 23 threw up a fractured mandate with the Congress and its ally, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) together winning 25 seats, while the JMM and the BJP won 18 each.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) have five seats each. The Janata Dal-United (JD-U), a BJP ally, has two seats. The state Assembly has 81 seats and the simple majority mark is 41.

According to informed sources, the BJP has demanded minimum seven Cabinet berths, including the deputy chief minister's post, to support Soren as chief minister.

The AJSU, on the other hand, has demanded at least three Cabinet berths and a post of deputy chief minister for its party President Sudesh Mahto.

Both the BJP and AJSU have also demanded key portfolios like power, rural development, mines and geology and roads.

Sources said that the JMM has agreed to give deputy chief minister's post to both BJP and AJSU and five and two cabinet berths, respectively.

JMM sources said that Soren is likely to meet the state Governor on Saturday to stake claim to forming the new government.

Meanwhile, the Congress and JVM-P held their own round of political slugfest to stitch together a coalition keeping the JMM out.

JVM-P President Babulal Marandi said Soren's demand was unacceptable. "There could be a government without the JMM," Marandi said in Ranchi.

A Congress leader told IANS: "In the given scenario, it is difficult to form the government as the JMM sticks to its demand of the chief minister's post. We have not given up hope of government formation but at the same time, it is not an easy task. We are exploring the possibilities of a government without JMM."

The Congress could form a government without JMM by seeking support of the RJD and the Independents.

The JMM started to show conciliatory moves towards the BJP on Thursday night when Soren said he did not term the saffron party as "communal".