Shibu Soren to continue as CM for now: Hemant

Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren will continue in his post as of now, JMMLP leader Hemant Soren claimed after a meeting with BJP leaders today.

"As of now, Shibu Soren is Chief Minister and will continue in that post," Hemant, Soren's son, who is playing a key role in talks between JMM and BJP to form a new government, told reporters here after his return from New Delhi.

"Our talks with the NDA leaders in Delhi were very constructive," he said.

His statement comes five days after the state plunged into a crisis following Soren's voting for UPA on cut motions in Parliament on April 27.

Subsequently, the BJP's Parliamentary Board decided to withdraw support to the JMM-led government before putting it on hold following Hemant's request for forming a government under a leader of BJP's choice.

Hemant, along with senior JMM leaders and allies, was holding parleys with the top BJP leaders to end the deadlock.

Deputy Chief Minister Sudesh Mahto, who returned along with Hemant, said the alliance would continue and talks were still on among the partners.

"We are still in the stage of dialogue on the state of affairs. We discussed why such hurdles are cropping up against the JMM government. We had talks in Delhi and the next round of talks will be held within a week," Mahto, also the president of AJSU Party (All Jharkhand Student's Union Party), said.