RJD throws its hat in Jharkhand ring

Adding another twist to the political uncertainty in Jharkhand,the RJD on Saturday demanded a chance to head the Government in the state.

Adding another twist to the political uncertainty in Jharkhand,the RJD on Saturday demanded a chance to head the Government in the state. Now the RJD should get a chance to head the UPA Government in the state, RJDs Corporate Affairs Minister Prem Chand Gupta declared after meeting a delegation of JMM leaders here.

The demand is said to be a well-calculated move by the RJD to compel the JMM to agree to a chief ministerial candidate of RJD supremo Lalu Prasads choice. The ploy seemed to have worked as JMM on Saturday indicated its willingness for a compromise with allies Congress and RJD over Shibu Sorens successor as Jharkhand CM.

We hope to arrive at a consensus with our allies soon, JMM MP Suman Mahato told The Sunday Express. Mahato along with party MP Hemlal Murmu and Sorens son Hemant are camping in New Delhi and have already met Congress president Sonia Gandhis political advisor Ahmed Patel.

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A final call is likely to be taken when RJD chief Lalu Prasad returns from Japan on Sunday. Soren is also likely to fly to New Delhi on Monday to hold discussions with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prasad. An amicable solution is in the interest of every ally since nobody wants Presidents rule, Hemant said.

Though Lalu continues to favour Independent MLA and former CM Madhu Koda,RJD leaders feel that a consensus can be built around some other name as well. Nobody,not even the JMM,wants Presidents rule and so Guruji (Soren) has to bend, remarked an RJD leader.

Murmu too felt that Presidents rule was unlikely to be imposed even in the wake of the Governors recommendation. Even if Presidents rule is imposed and the Assembly kept under suspended animation,the UPA will constitute the Government one day,he said.