The Congress and the JMM are close to forming a coalition Government in Jharkhand, but the only hitch is that with many of the MlAs of both the parties facing CBI probe into the cash for vote scam the Congress leadership is wary of facing another embarrassment in case prosecution begins against any members of the proposed Government.
JMM Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Kumar was not only invited by the Congress for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s dinner to celebrate the UPA’s ninth anniversary on Wednesday, but he was accorded special treatment being seated on the table with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi along with Congress vice- president Rahul Gandhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar and RJD leader lalu Prasad.
“Going by the political symbolism, it is clear that the Congress-JMM are close to forming a Government in the state. But a final decision will be taken within a weeks time,” sources said.
However, a major stumbling still remains as many of the MlAs of both parties being investigated for accepting money for voting in the Rajya Sabha elections and already facing heat over 2G spectrum scam and Coalgate, the Congress wants to avoid another controversy before the lok Sabha polls.
Though CBI probe is going on against a number of MlAs of almost all parties including those of BJP and AJSU, the proposed Congress-JMM coalition Government is likely to include of some of these tainted MlAs of the two parties . Till now CBI has sought sanction to prosecute only a senior leader and relative of JMM supremo Shibu Soren. But if similar prosecution starts against any of the Ministers of the proposed Government, the media attention will be focused on the issue causing huge embarrassment to the party, sources said.
However, at the same time the Congress realises that it needs ally to ensure a decent performance in the lok Sabha elections next year. So Rahul will hold a meeting of Jharkhand PCC President, ClP leader and AICC Incharge for Jharkhand Shakeel Ahmad on Friday to deliberate the issue. Earlier, Defence Minister AK Antony, who head the Congress panel to identify new allies, had solicited the views of party leaders from the State on the issue.