BJP puts off decision on Jharkhand CM

The BJP on Monday deferred the announcement of its chief ministerial candidate for Jharkhand and in a shift from its earlier stance.

The BJP on Monday deferred the announcement of its chief ministerial candidate for Jharkhand and in a shift from its earlier stance,said the government formation exercise in the state would be completed in a weeks time. The BJP Parliamentary Board that met here decided to depute two central observers former party president Rajnath Singh and general secretary Ananth Kumar for a BJP Legislature Party meeting to be held in Ranchi on Tuesday.

The two observers would attend the BJP Legislature Party meet,ascertain the views of the legislators and apprise the party president of their views. We will announce the name of the Chief Minister after that, Kumar said after the meeting of the BJP Parliamentary Board.

Arjun Munda (MP) who claims the majority support of tribal MLAs (there are 9 tribal MLAs in the 18-member strong BJP Legislature Party),Raghubar Das (Deputy Chief Minister) and Yashwant Sinha (MP),who is said to represent partys good governance plank,are said to be among the contenders.

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As many as 14 MLAs most of them supporters of Arjun Munda were in the Capital on Monday as they met a number of central leaders,including Rajnath Singh,Sushma Swaraj,Ram Lal,Ananth Kumar,Kariya Munda and Yashwant Sinha,canvassing support for Munda. Dass followers took umbrage at this,and charged the Munda group with indulging in unhealthy politics.

While there was some forward movement on this contentious issue,the BJP had,however,no convincing answer on the conflicting voices emanating from the JMM camp on Shibu Sorens apparent reluctance to step down,as also on the rotational arrangement that the JMM insists is part of the agreement worked out with the BJP.

Asked specifically about Shibu Sorens latest interview,given to a local news channel in Ranchi on Sunday night,wherein he apparently said he remained the state chief minister and that he alone would decide when to step down,Kumar said,We are confident that the entire JMM is in agreement on a BJP Chief Minister. Hemant Soren was here; AJSU leader Sudesh Mahto was here and the two have unequivocally agreed to a BJP Chief Minister, Kumar said when asked about Shibus flip-flops.

Meanwhile,in Ranchi,JMM MLAs said at this juncture a tribal CM could be in the interest of the party. So far,all CMs in Jharkhand were tribals. And as such the party leadership should consider the candidacy of a tribal for this post, said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bad Kunwar Gagarai.

(With ENS,Ranchi)