NDA tempts Soren with CM offer, his 3 MPs say they will back UPA

Ranchi, July 18 : With the UPA and the NDA banking on the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha for the trust vote, Shibu Soren’s outfit today seemed vertically divided. With the party set to decide on the NDA’s offer to make Soren the Chief Minister of Jharkhand at a meeting in Delhi tomorrow, three MPs have made it clear that they will back the UPA.

While a small section which favours a tie-up with the NDA maintaining a studied silence, the dominant faction comprising three JMM MPs— Hemlal Murmu, Teklal Mahato and Suman Mahato—and Deputy CM Sudhir Mahato have strongly opposed the proposal to back the NDA.

“If Soren wants to go to the NDA, let him go.We will side with the UPA,” said Teklal today before leaving for the national capital. Sudhir Mahato was equally vocal against it. “There is no way we can accept the NDA’s offer,” he said.

These JMM leaders, however, are not opposed to Soren becoming the CM with the UPA’s support. “In case this proposal is mooted by the UPA leadership, we will welcome it,” said Murmu.

Even Independent MLAs such Bhanu Pratap Shahi and Bandhu Tirkey who are ministers in the Madhu Koda Government expressed identical views. However, RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav and Independent MLA and Dy CM Stephen Marandi are not in favour of Soren becoming the CM by replacing Koda.

Congress sources say the party high command was ready to dump Koda. “But the party high command is not sure if Soren will give up his demand for the Union coal ministry and a minister of state post and if Laluji will accept him as Koda’s successor,” said a Congress leader.

When asked if he was ready to accept Soren as his successor, Koda said: “I have no problem.”

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