Soren stays CM for now, BJP sets conditions

The Jharkhand government has got temporary respite following the crisis created when the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha voted against the cut motion brought by ally BJP.

The Jharkhand government has got temporary respite following the crisis created when the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha voted against the cut motion brought by ally BJP.

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On April 28, the BJP parliamentary board had decided to withdraw support from the state government, led by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) President Shibu Soren.

However, the decision has been put in abeyance after the BJP leadership had a discussion on this with alliance partners JMM, Janata Dal (United) and All-Jharkhand Students’ Union Party.

Soren, by all accounts, will remain chief minister for now.

JMM legislature party leader Hemant Soren, who is the chief minister’s son, had suggested to BJP President Nitin Gadkari a change of guard in the state.

However, the BJP reportedly could not thrash out a solution because there were differences on the issue of leadership.

There were several candidates for the post of chief minister: party general secretary and former CM Arjun Munda, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, and deputy CM Raghubar Das. The name of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Karia Munda was also considered.

Meanwhile, the BJP has set three conditions against the JMM’s offer to back a new coalition arrangement in the state.

First, all the JMM MLAs must stay united and commit themselves to supporting a government headed by the BJP. Second, the JMM must give the commitment that the arrangement will hold until the term of the present assembly expires. And finally, the JMM has to agree to a common minimum programme for improving governance and development.

BJP chief Nitin Gadkari conveyed this to JMM leaders, led by Hemant, during more than four hours of discussion on Saturday. The BJP’s parliamentary board may meet on Tuesday or Wednesday to decide on the matter after the JMM’s response.