Congress president Sonia Gandhi slowed down the political developments in Jharkhand on Thursday. The Congress high command did not issue a 'written approval' to the coalition taking shape in the State between Congress and the JMM. This resulted in deferment of a formal announcement probably till Friday.
As per the plan, all issues relating to coalition have to be sorted out between top Congress and JMM leaders before the matter is placed before Sonia Gandhi. Accordingly, the day saw a series of meetings among in-charge of Congress in Jharkhand BK Hariprasad, Rajendra Singh, Sukhdeo Bhagat and Hemant Soren.
In the deliberations, a host of issues, including persons who would be inducted into the Cabinet and the role of supporting parties and Independents was discussed. Information suggests that some differences cropped up between Hemant and Congress leaders over ministerial berths, although later it was resolved amicably.
later, Hariprasad consulted Ahmed Patel, political secretary of Sonia Gandhi and both the leaders paid a visit to 10 Janppath to meet the Congress president. "The leaders explained to her the deal reached between the two parties. The matter has reached the madam (Sonia Gandhi). We are still awaiting her response. It is possible that the decision would come tomorrow," said State Congress president Sukhdeo Bhagat, adding that a formal announcement might might also take into consideration an 'auspicious time'.
The leaders present in Delhi sounded confident and denied any roadblock being in way of the decision. "There is no issue involved, not at all. Something can happen on Friday," said ClP leader Rajendra Singh. Singh also made it clear that Hemant Soren was going to become the new Chief Minister of the State and JMM was forming a government with Congress' support.
On the other hand, growing clarity over government formation exercise has made political opponents back home restless. State BJP president Ravindra Rai met Governor Syed Ahmed in the morning and reiterated the party's demand for dissolution of the Assembly immediately. "The exercise is unethical in our mind. We have demanded that the Assembly be dissolved and announcement for fresh poll be made. Otherwise, the workers of the party would stage protest and gherao Raj Bhawan," said Rai. Former Chief Minister Arjun Munda and some party legislators also accompanied him.
Meanwhile, the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) has threatened to observe a 'black day'.
Addressing a press meet, JVM general secretary Pradeep Yadav termed the effort a betrayal with the people of Jharkhand. "JVM opposes the move to form a government that is guided by give and take tactics. There is no cheer among the people about the new government and they are not ready to accept the coalition at all. We are going to observe a black day by putting on black badges throughout the State when the oath-taking takes place and will also boycott the ceremony," said Yadav.
He also alleged that the Congress had been using the CBI and money power to arm-twist and purchase the JMM and others to come to power and restart a loot. "The Congress has a time-tested tactics to use CBI and money to force others to come to terms with it. This has been used this time too to bring JMM and Independents into its fold. Offer of as much as Rs 15 crore has been made to the Independents to win their votes. They will use Hemant Soren like Madhu Koda and Jharkhand would see another set of loot raj," he added and questioned the tardy progress of the probe in the Rajya Sabha horse-trading case.
Yadav also affirmed that all party MlAs were united and denied any rebellion in JVM as some reports suggest. The party leaders would sit on July 10 to formulate their future strategy in view of the political developments.