Soren, Congress keep everyone guessing

Jharkhand Chief Minister Sibu Soren had a meeting with two Congress leaders on Friday in Bokaro, fuelling suspicion that he might jettison his power-sharing deal this week with the BJP. The strange saga of Shibu Soren

Jharkhand Chief Minister Sibu Soren had a meeting with two Congress leaders on Friday in Bokaro, fuelling suspicion that he might jettison his power-sharing deal this week with the BJP.

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On Tuesday, Soren’s party, the JMM, and the BJP made a pact that the two would have chief ministership in the state for 28 months each, till December 2014.

However, on Friday, Congress leaders Rajendra Singh and Sarfaraz Ahmad had an hour-long meeting with Soren at his Bokaro residence.

Although they said it was a courtesy call to pay homage to Soren’s eldest son, Durga Soren, on his first death anniversary, there was speculation about a turn in the course of events, in view of the Jharkhand CM’s statement on Thursday that he was in talks with the Congress.

Singh said that the Congress was not in favour of President’s rule in the state. “We will not let the state being pushed under Central rule again,” Singh said.

The BJP has said it will wait till May 25, the day Soren is supposed to step down. BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi said: “Normally I don’t comment on such things, but I feel it has become the theatre of the absurd.”