Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leaders to meet BJP chief on Jharkhand issue

Fresh efforts for a rapprochement with BJP are expected to be initiated by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) with Hemant Soren, son of beleaguered Jharkhand chief minister Shibu soren, arriving in New Delhi today with senior leaders to meet BJP chief Nitin Gadkari.

Significantly, JMM leader Haji Hussain Ansari, Champai Soren and Teklal Mahato, who have demanded that Soren should continue as chief minister were with Hemant, who has taken a lead in forming an alternative government.

BJP top brass is engaged in discussions on the next course of action in Jharkhand with the state unit divided on the issue of continuing to do business with JMM.

The JMM chief's youngest son, Basant, accompanied his elder brother, which party sources say is an attempt to give the impression that the entire Soren family is united on the issue of alternative government in which Hemant is expected to have a key role.

One of the two deputy chief ministers, Raghuvar Das, who belongs to BJP, also arrived here today but declined to comment on the issue of government formation saying the party's Parliamentary Board will take a decision.

The name of Das figures among the three top BJP contenders for chief ministership along with Yashwant Sinha and Arjun Munda.