New political equation may emerge in Jharkhand: Congress

"I do not rule out such a possibility (new political equation) as differences between allies of both the ruling and opposition camps have widened during the Rajya Sabha poll," Balmuchu told a press conference.

Had it not been so, he said, Independent MLAs Chamra Linda and Bidesh Singh would not have voted for him.

Linda and Singh had assured the BJP to vote for its candidate S S Ahuluwalia but the ruling coalition seemed to have failed to keep its promises made to them, leading to their change of mind, Balmuchu claimed.

Former BJP Chief Minister Babulal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) (JVM) had fielded its candidate in the countermanded March 30 RS poll but backed out in the re-election held on May 3, he said.

Similarly, BJP did not field its candidate in the March 30 poll for lack of numbers but decided to contest on May 3 poll with the same number of MLAs in the house, he said.

A 2009 assembly poll ally of the Congress, JVM has been in a love-hate relation with it since then. Eleven members of the JVM and the lone MLA of CPI(ML-Liberation) abstained from voting on May 3.

By abstaining, JVM supported the BJP indirectly, Balmuchu said adding Marandi would accept the chief minister's post, had the offer come from BJP now, Balmuchu claimed.