JVM-P not averse to forming government with Congress

RANCHI - The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) Wednesday said it was not averse to forming a government in alliance with the Congress after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) withdrew support to the Shibu Soren-led government.

JVM-P held a meeting of party legislators and party president Babulal Marandi discussed the present political situation in Jharkhand.

“We are not averse to forming government in the state. We will consider forming government in alliance with the Congress if we get any proposal,” party spokesperson Saroj said quoting Marandi’s address to the legislators.

Marandi, however, did not clarify who would lead the government in case of a JVM-P and Congress alliance.

While Congress has 14 legislators, JVM-P has 11. The two parties will need the support of Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) which has 18 legislators in the 81-member state assembly.

Soren’s government, which has been reduced to a minority after BJP withdrew support Monday, has been asked by the governor to prove his majority by May 31.

But the JVM-P spokesperson said: “The governor should immediately dismiss the Soren government, which has lost majority in the state.”

JVM-P has demanded one of the two Rajya Sabha seats from Congress. “We will seek one Rajya Sabha seat from the Congress,” Pradeep Yadav, JVM-P legislature party leader told reporters.

Elections to two Rajya Sabha seats from Jharkhand are scheduled to take place in June.

In the 81-member assembly, Soren was enjoying the support of 18 BJP legislators, two of JD-U and five All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) legislators.