JMM claims support of BJP, AJSU to form government

BJP to announce decision today after legislative party meet

The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) tonight claimed support of the Bharatiya Janata Part (BJP) and the All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) to form a government in Jharkhand with party chief Shibu Soren at its head but the two parties refused to divulge their cards, three days after Assembly polls produced a fragmented mandate.

“The BJP and AJSU have agreed to support the JMM under the leadership of Guruji (Soren),” party vice-president Hemlal Murmu told newsmen hours after the JMM legislature party elected Soren its leader and authorised him to explore government formation.

JMM has 18 MLAs, the same as that of BJP, and AJSU has five members in the 81-member House. If BJP ally JD(U), with two MLAs, also back JMM’s bid to form a government, its strength will go up to 43, more than the required majority.

BJP said it would announce a decision tomorrow. “Our legislative party will meet tomorrow at 11 am to elect its leader. Our central leaders, Ananth Kumar and Karuna Shukla, will be present. Thereafter, we will announce our decision,” state BJP President Raghubar Das said, soon after a party meeting which discussed government formation.

Questioned on JMM’s claim that it has BJP support to form the government under the leadership of Shibu Soren, he said, “Let them claim. We are still in a wait and watch mode. A final decision will be announced after the BJP-LP meeting tomorrow. Wait till conclusion of BJP-LP meeting.”

AJSU chief Sudesh Mahato refused to comment on JMM’s claim of the party’s support. Mahto had been minister in three BJP-led NDA governments.

AJSU also held a meeting to elect its chief Sudesh Mahato as leader of its legislature party.