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Doubts about BJP-JMM ties persist in Jharkhand
Even though the JMM and the BJP have agreed to run the Jharkhand government on a rotational basis, swapping chief ministers after 28 months, doubts about the alliance linger.
There is many a slip between the cup and the lip.
Even though the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have agreed to run the Jharkhand government on a rotational basis, swapping chief ministers after 28 months, doubts about the alliance linger.
JMM president and incumbent chief minister Shibu Soren hasn’t given a date on which he would step down to let BJP have the first go. “Guruji (Soren) will quit on May 25 (Tuesday),” said BJP leader Arjun Munda, who is supposed to replace Soren.
But Soren himself has remained silent. “I am still the CM,” he said, before leaving for Bokaro on Wednesday.
Insiders said he may hold his decision until Friday, the first death anniversary of his eldest son Durga Soren.
Nine legislators, led by Simon Marandi, are said to be disgruntled by the JMM-BJP deal, and the alliance could fail the floor test if they split the party.
There is also speculation of a Congress-JMM alliance, fuelled by Jharkhand Congress chief Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu’s visit to Delhi. JMM legislature party leader Hemant Soren is also in touch with the Congress leadership.
Another possibility is Soren recommending fresh polls. But that is unlikely, as no one is willing to face the electorate in half-a-year’s time.
