Raghubar Das frontrunner for J'khand CM's post

The Bharatiya Janta Party's (BJP) Raghubar Das, who is the deputy chief minister in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government in the state, has emerged the frontrunner for the chief minister's post ahead of the party's parliamentary board meet in New Delhi on Monday.

The Bharatiya Janta Party's (BJP) Raghubar Das, who is the deputy chief minister in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government in the state, has emerged the frontrunner for the chief minister's post ahead of the party's parliamentary board meet in New Delhi on Monday.

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BJP sources said party chief Nitin Gadkari is in favour of appointing Raghubar Das as the Jharkhand chief minister. "Raghubar Das is the front runner," said a BJP leader on condition of anonimity.

Meanwhile, party sources said a lobby is strongly working for former chief minister Arjun Munda, who is now a Lok Sabha MP. Former union finance minister Yashwant Sinha is also eyeing the post.

"A decision on who will be the next chief minister will be taken in the parliamentary board meeting tomorrow (Monday). The issue will be settled in that meeting," said party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain but declined to give further details.

The BJP got an opportunity to form the government in the state under the settlement with the Shibu Soren-led JMM to end the political stalemate in the state. The row began as the BJP threatened to withdraw support after Soren, who has retained his Lok Sabha seat, voted in favour of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) April 27 against the BJP's cut motion in the house.