New Delhi: BJP top leaders are meeting Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leaders in Delhi to decide on new chief minister. Sources have told NDTV that it's almost clear that a BJP leader will be the chief minister.
While leaders are busy working out the modalities, a Jharkhand MLA Tek Lal Mahto is also coming to Delhi saying he will meet UPA leaders including Sonia Gandhi in an effort to form government with Congress support.
"I am going to meet Sonia Gandhi, the chairperson of UPA. By voting for UPA Shibu Soren has proved that we are with UPA, said Tek Lal Mahto.
However, before leaving for Delhi Shibu Soren's son Hemant Soren said, "We are going to Delhi to discuss the Jharkhand situation with our allies."
Hemant evaded on the question of his party MLA's planned meeting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
On Friday BJP spokesperson said, "The decision to withdraw has been put on hold."
The BJP-Soren marriage ran into trouble when the BJP caught the Jharkhand Chief Minister with the political equivalent of lipstick on his collar: he was seen voting against his ally twice in parliament, thereby supporting the UPA government. At first, Soren was inscrutable about his infidelity. "I had to vote for someone," he said, "so I went with the Congress."
Within hours, Soren had decided he wanted to kiss and make up. Three written apologies were sent to the BJP, which said it was over. So what's changed since then?
If the BJP bows out, President's Rule will be introduced in Jharkhand, giving the Congress the upper hand. And Soren, in an attempt to stay in power, has told the BJP it can pick a new chief minister as long as his replacement is a tribal leader.
It's unclear whether Soren's son, an MLA in Jharkhand and a leader of Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha ( JMM ), is onboard with these plans. He is reportedly livid with his father for endangering their relationship with the BJP. Now, he says, cryptically, "The BJP make us an offer."