Thaindian News

Ranchi, May 18 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) have agreed to share power in rotation for 28 months each, Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren said Tuesday. He is likely to step down May 25 for former chief minister Arjun Munda, who may head the BJP-led government.
“We have agreed to share power in rotation. The BJP and the JMM will each rule the state for 28 months,” the JMM chief said at a joint press conference with BJP national general secretary Munda. It was the first appearance of Soren before media with BJP leaders during the ongoing political crisis.

Asked who would lead the government first, Soren said: “At present I am the chief minister.” He, however, did not clarify when he would step down. Munda added: “The BJP will run the government for the next 28 months and then power will be transferred to the JMM.”

According to the BJP, the transfer of power is likely to take place next week. “Shibu Soren has agreed to quit on May 25 to transfer power,” BJP leader in charge of the party’s affairs in Jharkhand Karuna Shukla said.

The JMM, it is learnt, acquiesced to giving up power after former BJP president Rajnath Singh conveyed to Soren that the party would be forced to withdraw support. According to BJP sources, the JMM was asked to take a decision Tuesday or the BJP would withdraw support Wednesday.

The final announcement followed a day of hectic developments with Munda going to the party office and then to Soren’s residence. He was later joined by state BJP chief and Deputy Chief Minister Raghubar Das as well as Shukla.

Also present were Soren’s son Hemant Soren and senior JMM leaders. BJP and JMM leaders were later joined by All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) chief Sudesh Mahto, who is also a deputy chief minister.

According to sources, the JMM demanded at least six ministerial posts as well as the speaker’s post. The BJP is learnt to have agreed to five minister posts and the post of deputy speaker. The meeting is also learnt to have discussed adjusting the JMM legislators on state-run boards and corporations.

“Hemant Soren and Sudesh Mahto will be two deputy chief ministers in the next BJP-headed government,” a senior JMM leader and minister said.

Jharkhand has been in the midst of a political crisis since Soren voted against the BJP’s cut motions in the Lok Sabha. That led the BJP, a junior partner in the ruling coalition, to withdraw legislative support to the ruling JMM, creating a crisis that still continues.