There was a sort of lull in the Jharkhand political drama on Friday with the Congress not committing anything on government formation in the State. After several rounds of meeting with senior Congress leaders in Delhi, JMM's Hemant Soren could only speak about assurance coming from the national party and that both the parties would fight the lok Sabha polls together.
Speaking to the media briefly in Delhi, Hemant expressed happiness and also hoped to form the government soon. "Congress has assured us that a popular government would be in place in the State. We have discussed several matters and agreed upon many. We have decided that a coalition government would be formed. Also, the alliance would fight 2014 lok Sabha polls together," he said while State Congress leaders, including PCC chief Sukhdeo Bhagat accompanied him.
Significantly, the JMM leader did not say anything whether the Congress would participate in the government or the role lalu Prasad's RJD would play. Interestingly, later, the in-charge of Congress in Jharkhand, BK Hariprasad chose against addressing the media and released a press note that also maintained silence over the role of the Congress.
The release just specified that both the parties would contest the general election in the State by sharing the 14 seats in 10:4 ratio. The formula virtually slammed doors on RJD's face that had extended its unconditional support to Hemant Soren to form the government. The move should be enough to keep lalu Prasad tizzy, who is already feeling uncomfortable with Congress' growing closeness with his bête noire Nitish Kumar in Bihar.
Sources privy to the developments hinted that the Congress was unwilling to trade with the RJD and was wooing JD-U. The leadership has made it clear to Hemant that lalu Prasad's party may extend its unconditional support to the JMM-led government, but the Cabinet berths would not be shared with the party with five MlAs. "RJD has extended its support to Hemant. They are welcome but Congress would not like the party in the Cabinet," said a senior Congress leader present in Delhi.
Congress, while putting the condition, has also tasked the JMM to arrange for number required. Hemant in that case has a very difficult task in hand to manage RJD and also the Independents without accommodating them in the Cabinet. It is learnt that the Congress withheld its participation in the coalition on this very ground and would "decide" when Hemant comes up with a solution to both the problems.
"The Congress had submitted the letter of support to the JMM. On the issue of participation, it has not been decided yet. Please wait for that," said a Congress leader hinting that in case the JMM fails in managing RJD and Independents, the party may extend just outside support to the alliance.
The JMM has also shown its teeth saying the Government would be formed only when Congress participates in the government. "They want to hold the JMM liable and also enjoy perks of the government. The party is clear that the government will be formed only when the Congress participates in this," said a JMM legislator.
Now all eyes are on Hemant Soren who along with the leaders camping in Delhi would be returning to Ranchi on Saturday. Fresh deliberations are likely to start by involving more than one fronts and probably difficult set of circumstances to deal with.