Cong working towards forming govt in J'khand with JMM

With the term of the President's rule set to expire in about a fortnight, Congress is working towards an alliance with JMM to form an alternative government in Jharkhand, primarily to try and win a lion's share of the 14 Lok Sabha seats.
As part of the exercise, JMM chief Shibu Soren's son Hemant Soren tonight met senior Congress leader A K Antony and Ahmed Patel during which leaders of both the parties discussed the modalities for the alliance.
Sources said the Congress leadership made it clear to Soren that its main focus is on the pre-poll seat-sharing arrangement for next Lok Sabha polls and it has no problem having a chief minister from JMM provided the person has a clean image.

The meeting also deliberated on how to garner the requisite number to form the government in Jharkhand where the spell of President's rule expires on July 18.
A senior Congress leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said an announcement on the alliance is likely this week.
Soren will also be meeting Congress President Sonia Gandhi in a day or two.
Under the understanding reached so far, Congress will accept JMM chief Shibu Soren's son Hemant as Chief Minister, while JMM will have to concede nine to ten seats to Congress in the next Lok Sabha polls, sources said.
They said Congress will participate in the alliance government in the state, though there are some views contrary to it also within the party.