JMM offers BJP old formula,new numbers

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha initiated last-ditch efforts to enter into an understanding with the BJP.

With Jharkhand Governor M O H Farook exploring various possibilities of government formation,the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha JMM on Monday initiated last-ditch efforts to enter into an understanding with the BJP again to avert the Presidents rule in the state.

JMM chief Shibu Sorens son Hemant was learnt to have spoken to BJP chief Nitin Gadkari and senior party leader Rajnath Singh,offering his partys support as well as that of the five MLAs of the All Jharkhand Students Union AJSU and two Independents.

We are ready with the letter of support for the BJP. The letter has the signatures of our 18 MLAs,five MLAs of the AJSU and two Independents, a source close to Hemant told The Indian Express. Sources said the JMM had conveyed to the BJP that it was ready to revive the 28-28 month rotation formula thrashed out by the two parties earlier this month.

However,there are not many takers for the offer in the BJP given the experience it had with the JMM. The central leadership is in no mood to have any association with the JMM again,although it has come under considerable pressure from a majority of its MLAs who are learnt to be pressing for some sort of arrangement. The feeling among the top leaders is that JMM could not be trusted anymore.

As many as 16 of the BJPs 18 MLAs have asked the state leadership to revive efforts for government formation as they want to avoid the spectre of the Presidents rule. These MLAs lambasted state unit president Raghuvar Das and alleged he was not conveying their concerns to the party high command because they had not backed his candidacy for the CM post. Since we supported Arjun Munda,Das turned hostile and began to act against the interests of the party and the state, said a BJP MLA.

However,senior leaders L K Advani,Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj are against any association with Soren again,putting the party chief in a dilemma.

In Delhi,BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the party had withdrawn support and we are at the moment not looking at forming a government in the state. She,however,said the BJP was keenly watching the Congress party and its movements.

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Although the BJP had decided to put an end to all efforts for government formation in Jharkhand after it withdrew support to the JMM last week in the wake of confusing signals given by Soren senior,the pressure mounted by its MLAs has become a cause for worry. There is a realisation in the party that many of its MLAs are vulnerable and could switch sides. The need for keeping the flock together is being talked about.

Earlier in the day,Governor Farook invited leaders of the main parties and explored possibilities of government formation following Sorens resignation on Sunday night. With none of them staking claim to form the government,Farook sent a factual report to the Centre. The Governor has sent a factual report,detailing the response of the three main political parties, highly placed sources in the Raj Bhawan told The Indian Express.