Jharkhand CM Soren says will resign soon

RANCHI - Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren on Saturday indicated that he would resign within a couple of days to make way for the formation of a new coalition government in the state.

Soren revealed his future plans during an interaction with the media here.

His statement came after it was agreed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would head the new National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the eastern state, putting an end to a political stalemate over the formation of a new government.

It may be recalled that the BJP was displeased at Soren’s vole-face in the federal parliament during a cut motion raised by the opposition in the Lok Sabha on April 27.

Later, Soren regretted for his action, saying that it had been committed in haste.

He and his son Hemant subsequently wrote letters of apology to senior BJP leaders, expressing their preference for remaining aligned with the BJP.

Soren said that according to the new formula, both the BJP and the JMM would head the government on a rotational basis, with the BJP getting the first opportunity to lead the coalition.

“We had discussions with BJP about the political situation. (Q. When?) I will resign whenever it is decided …. say within a couple of days ….of course,” said Shibu Soren.

BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, Hemant Soren, a leader of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Sudesh Mahato, the chief of the All Jharkhand Students Union’s (AJSU) worked on the nitty-gritty of the new government in New Delhi on Saturday.

The JMM-BJP coalition government was formed in Jharkhand about four months ago.

The state has been under the spell of unstable governments since its formation in 2000. (ANI)