Amid heightened political activities that have seen a surge in the past couple of days, the Congress and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Tuesday took the first visible step in the direction of Government formation in Jharkhand.
leaders of both the probable coalition partners first met with each other and later flew to Delhi to strike a final deal in consultation with the Congress high command.
State Congress president Sukhdeo Bhagat, legislative Party leader Rajendra Prasad Singh, lok Sabha MP Subodh Kant Sahay, along with in-charge of party affairs BK Hariprasad and senior leader Shakil Ahmed, are expected to hold talks with Congress coalition committee chairman AK Antony and political secretary of Sonia Gandhi Ahmed Patel late on Tuesday evening in Delhi. JMM leader Hemant Soren and Champai Soren would also be present in the meeting. later, Congress president Sonia Gandhi would be apprised of the agreement, seeking her final go-ahead.
“We have come here to hold talks with senior leaders. The meeting was planned for the evening, but has been delayed in the wake of the killing of the Pakur SP. Chances are that the meeting would take place late in the evening,” Rajendra Singh told The Pioneer over phone from the national capital.
Earlier, as expected Chief Ministerial candidate in the fresh coalition, Hemant Soren, drove to the residence of Rajendra Singh late on Monday night and is understood to have discussed the pros and cons involved in details.
As a return gesture, top Congress leaders, including Sukhdeo Bhagat, Rajendra Singh, BK Hariprasad, Shakil Ahmed and Sarfaraz Ahmed paid a visit to JMM patriarch Shibu Soren and remained huddled for about half-an-hour on Tuesday morning.
Talking to media persons, Singh confirmed about the developments taking place. “We have come here to seek support of Guruji (Shibu Soren). We all are leaving for Delhi and further talks would take place there only,” he said. Shakil Ahmed also added that the issue of Government formation came for discussion, but nothing is concrete as of now. “We have time till July 18,” Ahmed said.
Though wider consultations with other partners is yet to take place, RJD and Independents, crucial for the Government formation that requires the magic figure of 42, have offered their support without any assurance in return. “Formal talks are yet to take place with us. It might have taken place with our leadership. We are positive and expect a call after they return from Delhi,” RJD leader Annapurna Devi said.
The Congress has also not made up its mind on the contentious domicile issue that had rendered the JMM-BJP alliance at fracture point and resulted in the fall of the Munda Government in January. “It is a technical matter and decision would be taken by the Congress after taking societal considerations in the State into mind,” said Sukhdeo Bhagat.