The cat and mouse game between prospective alliance partners Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha is continuing.
Congress legislative Party leader Rajendra Singh and State party president Sukhdeo Bhagat’s meeting with the ‘coalition committee’ on Tuesday in Delhi yielded “positives,” but only signals.
The leaders had earlier planned to meet Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, but instead landed up in a huddle with Defence Minister AK Antony and general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi in the evening.
“We have been told not reveal anything. Congress leaders from the State will again come to Delhi on May 24 and hold another round of talks with senior leaders,” Singh told The Pioneer soon after the meeting.
The Congress is looking to hold two fronts simultaneously. The party has, on one hand, put the JMM on tenterhooks over the Government formation issue and on the other, also wants to delay fresh polls while continuing with the President’s Rule as long as possible.
Recent deferment of a final decision on a JMM-Congress alliance was clearly a move to checkmate Shibu Soren’s party. The JMM is expected to take a call at their two-day conclave in Bokaro. With the Congress advancing its decision again, the ball is firmly in the JMM’s court. However, Singh remained confident, saying, “Indications are positive and we are very happy with the meeting.”