Ranchi, Dec 16 (IANS) Fearing a hung assembly, Jharkhand’s political parties have begun to woo fresh allies in order to form a new government.
Most political pundits believe that no single party or pre-poll alliance is likely to get a majority in the 81-member legislature.

So even as they take on one another in the ongoing assembly elections, whose fifth and final phase will be held Friday with vote count to follow Dec 23, the parties say they are open to new post-poll formations.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad is toiling hard to retain the seven seats his party won in 2005 and, if possible, up the tally. Lalu Prasad has addressed over 150 public meetings.

Addressing a public meeting in Palamau Tuesday, Lalu Prasad said he would support any government that would keep the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) away from power.

The former railway minister has cemented an alliance with the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) of Ramvilas Paswan and leftists who barely have any following in state politics.

The BJP is overtly confident of getting a majority in the staggered elections.

The party has denied speculation that its leader Arun Jaitely met Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) chief Shibu Soren at the VIP lounge of Ranchi airport Sunday.

The JMM, which is fighting the elections alone, is reportedly open to teaming up with the Congress or the BJP post elections.

“It is too early to talk about post-poll alliance,” said Hemant Soren, a Rajya Sabha MP of JMM and son of Shibu Soren. But he quickly added that in politics there were no permanent allies.

A winning combination would need to bag at least 41 seats in the state assembly.

The Congress too say it will form a government on its own strength but its Jharkhand unit general secretary Shailesh Sinha told IANS: “We are not averse to the idea of seeking support from secular minded people for the development of the state.”