Congress not keen on Soren as CM

Poised for power for the first time in Jharkhand, the Congress wants to take Shibu Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on board to help cobble a government but is against installing him as chief minister again should he demand the post.

Poised for power for the first time in Jharkhand, the Congress wants to take Shibu Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on board to help cobble a government but is against installing him as chief minister again should he demand the post.

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It may, however, offer him a role at the Centre to secure the support of his 18 legislators.

Whether Soren, who holds the key to government formation, plays ball remains to be seen.

Congress sources say the party will offer only outside support if Soren is within striking distance of the CM’s post.
Anticipating a fractured mandate, the Congress had informally opened talks with the JMM and Lalu Prasad’s RJD a couple of days back.

A more intensive exercise will be undertaken now as the Congress tries to work up a majority in the 81-member assembly.
“Our priority will be to provide a secular and stable government,” said spokesman Manish Tewari.

It would not be easy for the Congress to do so even though the BJP — with 18 seats — does not appear to be in the race.

Parties or individuals who lend support to the Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha camp, such as the RJD, would demand their pound of flesh.

K. Keshava Rao, Congress leader in charge of Jharkhand, called on Gandhi and is expected to go to Ranchi on Thursday.

Adding to Congress’s problems is the defeat of almost every senior leader who they could have projected as CM candidate. It may want Marandi to merge with the Congress so that the party can claim the government as its own.