Shibu Soren rises again. With Jharkhand giving a fractured verdict, there is a fierce numbers battle on and Soren has emerged as kingmaker. He also fancies his chances at government formation. (Watch: Tainted Soren flexes his muscles)
Once a Union Minister in the UPA and then thrown out after his conviction in a murder case, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader, with his 18 MLAs in the 81-seat Assembly, is now being eyed by both the Congress and the BJP.
The Congress and its ally Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajantantrik (JVM-P) have 25 seats while the BJP and partner Janata Dal United have 20 seats. (Also See: Seat by seat result)
The numbers are not lost on Soren who points out: "I am the single largest party in Jharkhand. So I should be given the chance to form a government."
Sources say the Congress is looking at two options: To form a government with JMM support, or to cobble together a majority using the RJD, the ASJU and Independents
Though Congress sources said there was no immediate plan to meet Shibu Soren, at least not before party leader Subodh Kant Sahai had talked to the high command, Soren said he was talking to both the BJP and the Congress. "I also know that there are alliances that have got seats and we are talking to people and will decide our course of action later," he said in Bokaro.
Subodh Kant Sahai is likely to travel to Delhi on Thursday to discuss government formation in Jharkhand with the Congress central leadership. (See: Results)
Once a Union Minister in the UPA and then thrown out after his conviction in a murder case, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leader, with his 18 MLAs in the 81-seat Assembly, is now being eyed by both the Congress and the BJP.
The Congress and its ally Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajantantrik (JVM-P) have 25 seats while the BJP and partner Janata Dal United have 20 seats. (Also See: Seat by seat result)
The numbers are not lost on Soren who points out: "I am the single largest party in Jharkhand. So I should be given the chance to form a government."
Sources say the Congress is looking at two options: To form a government with JMM support, or to cobble together a majority using the RJD, the ASJU and Independents
Though Congress sources said there was no immediate plan to meet Shibu Soren, at least not before party leader Subodh Kant Sahai had talked to the high command, Soren said he was talking to both the BJP and the Congress. "I also know that there are alliances that have got seats and we are talking to people and will decide our course of action later," he said in Bokaro.
Subodh Kant Sahai is likely to travel to Delhi on Thursday to discuss government formation in Jharkhand with the Congress central leadership. (See: Results)
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