Jharkhand Congress leaders meet Sonia Gandhi

With political uncertainty continuing in Jharkhand, state Congress leaders today met party president Sonia Gandhi and briefed her on the developments in the tribal state.

"We are for a popular government in the state, not for president's rule," PCC president Pradeep Balmuchu told reporters after meeting Gandhi.

AICC in-charge of the state K Keshava Rao was evasive on the meeting and the formula for government formation only saying that Congress is "approaching the issue with a positive frame of mind".
    
Sources said that while the meeting pertained to the Rajya Sabha elections in the state, the leaders also discussed the possibility of Congress forming the government in alliance with Babu Lal Marandi-led Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Asked about the role of the party in government formation, Congress spokesman Manish Tewari merely said, "From the beginning we have maintained that the larger interest of the people of the state should be kept in mind while taking any decision."

Criticising the BJP, Tewari said it did everything to remain in power in the state. He said there was no governance there.

Asked whether the party will seek support of the JMM to form the government, he said, "we will do whatever is necessary for the larger interests of the people of the state".

Party sources maintained that they will wait till May 31, the last date given to Soren by the Governor to prove his majority and then take a decision on the next course of action.

"Wait till May 31. We are a dynamic party and will respond to the emerging situation," a party source said, indicating that a brief spell of President's rule with assembly in suspended animation was not ruled out to thrash out an amicable formula.

In the 82-member Jharkhand Assembly, Congress and JVM have 25 members while the JMM has 18. If all the three parties combine, the tally goes to 43, a comfortable majority to form the government.