New Delhi, December 26: The stage is set for the formation of a JMM-BJP coalition Government in Jharkhand with BJP President Nitin Gadkari giving the green signal to the party’s state unit to support JMM leader Shibu Soren as the next Chief Minister. As per the formula worked out, the power sharing between the JMM and the BJP would be on the 50:50 basis.
Former BJP President Rajnath Singh left for Jharkhand on Friday night to hold confabulations with the JMM and AJSU and JD(U) on the government formation.
At a top-level meeting at the party headquarters in the Capital chaired by BJP President Nitin Gadkari and attended by former party president Rajnath Singh and BJP General Secretary Ananth Kumar, the party finally made up its mind not to miss the opportunity of forming the Government in Jharkhand even if at the cost of supporting tainted leader Shibu Soren.
With the support of 18 MLAs from the BJP, five MLAs from the All Jharkhand Students’ Union, two from the JD (U) and 18 seats from the JMM, former Chief Minister Shibu Soren can easily become the next Chief Minister of the State, having the support of 43 MLAs.
In the house of 81 seats, 41 is the magic number required to form the government in the tribal State. The BJP had kept its “options open” and adopted a cautious approach, waiting for its turn to be approached by the JMM.
“The nitty-gritty of Governmentformation would be worked out when Rajnath reaches Jharkhand,” a BJP leader said.
——-Agencies