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Jharkhand: BJP to insist on CM's post

Sunil Jha in New Delhi

The pressure from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha notwithstanding, the Bharatiya Janata Party will insist on foisting its own nominee as the chief minister of Jharkhand where the National Democratic Alliance is confident of forming a government.

BJP sources said, "there is no question of giving away the chief minister's post as we would be the largest group with 32 legislators in the proposed 83-member House." The NDA has a strength of 52, including 12 members of the JMM, five of the Samata Party and three of the Janata Dal (United).

The JMM has been mounting pressure on the NDA demanding that its president Shibu Soren be appointed the first chief minister of the state considering his 'immense contribution' to the movement leading to the formation of Jharkhand.

However, BJP leaders are of the view that it deserves the top post as it was due to the party's efforts that Jharkhand was created, besides having the maximum number of legislators.

The party also expects a large number of legislators from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, which has eleven members from the region, and the Congress (12 members) will split from the respective parent parties and join the BJP in the event of the party forming the government.

The leaders claimed that both RJD and Congress legislators were in touch with NDA leaders. The RJD had no base in the region and the Congress, the leaders said, had lost its standing over the past few years.

If the splits occur, the BJP will be in a position to form the government on its own. Its leaders are optimistic that at the time of government formation, the NDA's strength can rise to about 60.

Union minister and a prominent leader from the region Babu Lal Marandi says the government will include all alliance partners of the NDA. "We will like all our partners to join the government." As for the chief minister's post, he said, "The matter would be sorted out amicably at a meeting of the NDA."

Marandi and senior leader Karia Munda are the two contenders for the top job from the BJP.

The NDA is likely to choose its leader around October end or beginning of November before the creation of Jharkhand is formalised during the winter session of Parliament in December.

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