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‘We had to support Soren’
In 2004, the BJP was gunning for him. But five years is a long time in politics. On Monday, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren shared the dais with NDA convenor Sharad Yadav and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.
In 2004, the BJP was gunning for him. But five years is a long time in politics. On Monday, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren shared the dais with NDA convenor Sharad Yadav and BJP leader Yashwant Sinha.
Five years ago, the BJP had stalled Parliament for days after Soren was inducted as a minister in the UPA government on the ground that he had criminal charges pending against him. But now it suits the party to back him.
Not just that, in Mumbai on Monday, BJP president Nitin Gadkari batted for Soren, justifying his party’s support to his outfit.
“There was no option for us. People in Jharkhand have elected Shibu Soren. In politics you have to do such things,” Gadkari said.
He trained his guns on the Congress instead. “Soren was given money by the Congress. It is the Congress that started this corruption,” Gadkari said.
On Monday morning, Soren met Gadkari in Mumbai and the two discussed the power-sharing agreement in Jharkhand.
The names of BJP’s Raghuvar Das and All Jharkhand Students Union leader Sudesh Mahto were discussed for the post of deputy CM, said sources on condition of anonymity.
The Soren-led coalition ministry, to be sworn in on Wednesday, is likely to have three members from the JMM and four from the BJP.
In New Delhi, Sharad Yadav skirted the question on Soren formally joining the NDA: “The decision on joining the alliance will be taken later.”
Asked about Soren’s conviction in his secretary’s murder case, Yadav said Soren had later been cleared by the High Court. The matter rests with the Supreme Court now.
BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy, who had on Saturday said he opposed his party’s tie-up with the JMM, went into damage control mode on Monday.
Rudy said he had made the remark in his personal capacity before the alliance with JMM was finalised.
