Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said on Friday that the Congress was in no hurry to form the government, as it may make the party compromise on its crusade against corruption, insistence for transparency and its stress on development.
Talking to the Hindustan Times on his return from New Delhi after meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Sahai said they (Congress leaders) were ready to negotiate with Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Sibu Soren, if he agreed to reconsider his stand on being the chief minister. “We have thought of according greater responsibility to him (Soren). We have made him the chief minister twice. Now, he ought to behave like a seasoned politician,” said Sahai.
Although Sahai refrained from divulging the details of this meeting with Sonia Gandhi on Jharkhand affairs, it was apparent from his approach in dealing with the issue that the Congress would make a last ditch attempt to convince Soren not to walk out of the secular combine for short-term political gains. “It is surprising to find that Soren did not find BJP a communal party. If he had any confusion, Soren should at least ask someone to read the findings of the Librahan Commission report, which categorically blamed BJP for the demolition of Babri Mosque, for him,” said Sahai.
“The Congress has given him full honour in accordance with his status, and he would continue to get it from the party, if he agrees to the conditions stipulated by the party for the government formation. Had we been so eager to form the government, it would not have been a tough task for the Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) combine. We have two formula to form the government—both with the JMM and without it. But the party is unwilling to conceded to illogical demands of the JMM,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}“The Congress has given him full honour in accordance with his status, and he would continue to get it from the party, if he agrees to the conditions stipulated by the party for the government formation. Had we been so eager to form the government, it would not have been a tough task for the Congress-Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) combine. We have two formula to form the government—both with the JMM and without it. But the party is unwilling to conceded to illogical demands of the JMM,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Sources close to Sahai said that RJD chief Lalu Prasad has thrown its weight behind the Congress-combine to avert any move of the BJP to form the government. He, however, relying on Sahai’s maneuverings to turn the game in favour of the ‘secular forces.’ “Yes, Laluji is in touch with me. And I will hopefully meet Soren tonight or tomorrow to explore the possibility of forming the government,” Sahai said.
Firebrand Congress leader and newly elected MLA from Vishrampur Chandrashekhar Dubey alias Dadai Dubey, who was also with Sahai, however, categorically ruled out conceding to the JMM’s demand for chief minister’s chair to Soren, saying that the Congress would prefer sitting in the Opposition instead of supporting the government led by him. “We rate him as one for the most in-efficient chief minister,” said Dubey, adding that the party might also not accept the support of tainted legislators even though they extended their unconditional support to them.