Renewed talks of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) with the Congress have stuck on several counts. It is learnt that Babulal Marandi’s party in lieu of coming forward to fight the BJP has put numerous preconditions before the Congress leadership which may derail the efforts to form a ‘grand alliance’ in Jharkhand in the lines of Bihar, sources say.
Following the meeting of Marandi with the Congress Minister in the Hemant Soren Government KN Tripathi, another unofficial consultation has taken place in Delhi in the past few days involving top bosses of both the parties. Sources privy to the developments though have maintained that it remained inconclusive thus far.
“Babulal Marandi is in Delhi and some talks have taken place. Tripathi ji is again playing a crucial role into all this due to his proximity with the Congress high command. But any breakthrough is only possible in this regard if the Congress comes on terms with us,” said a JVM general secretary.
The JVM has supposedly made it clear to the Congress that its leader Marandi is first among the equals and should be given the Chief Minister’s post if the alliance comes to power following Assembly elections expected by year-end. “They have also sought for equal partnership in the alliance which means much more than 25 seats to contest than what they had contested last time being in the alliance with the Congress,” said a Congress leader from Delhi.
This apart, the JVM has also put conditions before the Congress to pull out of the present JMM-led Government and snap ties with it. “We are definitely looking for better options but it does not mean compromising our own interest. They will have to leave the Government,” said Praveen Singh, an office-bearer of the JVM.
These preconditions are considered to be too tough for the Congress. “They are left with couple of leaders only at present and are demanding everything. Some talks are going on involving AK Antony and Ahmed Patel but no breakthrough as of now. leaving JMM at this juncture would be very difficult for the Congress. And if all the anti-BJP forces do not come on a single platform then any such alliance would be meaningless,” said a Congress leader.
Amid all this, the JMM that has though officially snubbed any idea to shake hands with Babulal Marandi, is unofficially mulling to reconsider its stated position provided it gets lion’s share in the seat allocations. It was learnt to have conveyed to the Congress leadership that any share going to the JVM would be from Congress’ quota and not from the Shibu Soren-led party. This apart, the JMM and the JVM may also come on collision course when it comes to identifying seats in Santhal Pargana area, the stronghold of both the parties.