Just over a week after President’s Rule was imposed in Jharkhand and the Assembly put under suspended animation, former chief minister and JMM chief Shibu Soren has not lost hope of bringing his party back to power.

Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Soren said: “We are going to persuade the UPA leadership to form a Government led by our party.” The JMM chief is expected to fly to New Delhi to discuss Government formation with the UPA leadership soon after February 5. “February 6 onwards we will leave no stone unturned to restore democratic Government in the state,” he said.

At a meeting of JMM MLAs on Tuesday night at Soren’s house, it was unanimously decided that the UPA leadership would be approached to consider either of its two MLAs — Nalin Soren or Salkhan Soren — as Chief Minister. Prior to the imposition of President’s Rule, the Congress and RJD had refused the name of Champai Soren as Soren’s successor. The NDA, comprising the BJP, the JD(U) and the Jharkhand Vikash Morcha of former CM Babulal Marandi, has sought dissolution of the Assembly.

Asked about Madhu Koda, whose name has been pushed by the RJD, Soren said: “By ousting him, I had become the CM. How can he become the CM again?”